Six ways to protect your bank card from fraud

The most effective ways to protect a bank card are to switch on transaction alerts, never share one-time codes, shop only on secure sites, keep the physical card under your control, check statements regularly and report problems immediately. None of these cost anything, and together they stop most card fraud before it becomes expensive.

1. Turn on transaction alerts

Ask your bank to send an SMS or app notification for every card transaction, or at least those above a low amount. An alert turns a fraud problem you would discover at month end into one you spot within minutes. Check that your bank has your current mobile number and that you can freeze the card from the app.

2. Never share codes or your PIN

Your bank will not phone, message or email to ask for your PIN, full card number with security code, or the one-time password sent to your phone. Fraudsters often pose as the bank, a delivery company or a government office and create urgency: "your account will be blocked". If a call worries you, hang up and ring the number printed on the back of your card. Do not use a number the caller supplies.

Choose a PIN that is not a birth year, phone number or repeated digits. Do not write it on the card or store it in your phone notes.

3. Shop only where it is safe

• Check that the address begins with https and that the spelling of the site is exactly right. Fake shops often copy a real name with one letter changed.
• Be suspicious of prices far below those of other shops.
• Where possible, use a digital wallet, a virtual card number or a card that you use only for online buying with a low balance or limit.
• Do not save card details on every site. Convenience is not worth a larger leak if one site is breached.
• Avoid public wifi when entering card details. Use mobile data instead.

4. Handle the physical card carefully

At a restaurant or shop, keep the card in sight, or ask for a portable terminal to be brought to you. At a cash machine, cover the keypad with your hand, and look for loose parts, unusual attachments or a camera. If a machine swallows your card or something looks wrong, do not accept help from strangers; contact the bank directly. Keep the card number out of photos and social media posts, including pictures of a new card.

5. Review statements and set limits

Scan your transactions weekly. Small unknown payments can be tests before larger ones. Look at the merchant name, date and amount, and query anything unfamiliar. Many banks let you set daily limits, switch off international or online use and block contactless payments. Use these settings to match your habits: if you never shop abroad, keep overseas use off until you travel.

6. Report problems at once

If a card is lost, stolen or used without your permission, freeze or cancel it and contact the bank immediately. Your protection often depends on how quickly you report, and many banks have specific time limits in their terms, so read yours before you need them. Note the date, time and reference number of your report. Ask for a replacement card and a written outcome of any dispute.

Extra points for card users in the Gulf

• Phone scams impersonating banks, couriers and government offices are common in many places, including the Gulf. Banks and central banks regularly publish warnings, so read yours.
• Travellers should tell the bank where they are going if it requests this, and know how to freeze the card from abroad.
• Contactless limits, overseas fees and liability rules differ by bank and country. Look at the bank's terms or ask a branch.
• If you share a household or a company card with staff, set separate cards and limits instead of lending your own.
• Check which sites show a verified, bank-approved payment page before you enter a one-time password.

A quick routine

Once a month, open your banking app, review the last thirty days, confirm your alert settings and check the limits. It takes five minutes. If you find an issue, call the bank on the number printed on your card, not one from an email, and keep a record of the call.