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Credit and Debit Card Safety Tips

1. Always keep your credit or debit card in a safe place. Protect it just like you would protect cash or checks. Do not expose your card or your card number unnecessarily.

2. If your card is lost or stolen, or if you suspect unauthorized use, contact us immediately:

   • During business hours: (513) 523-8888
   • After business hours:
     • Miami VISA Credit Cards: 1-888-720-6836 opt. 2
     • MasterCard Debit & Jeanie ATM Cards: 1-800-528-2273
     • Outside North America (Debit & ATM Cards Only): +1 812-647-9794
3.  

4. Never send your card number or any other personal information through email--not even to us. Email is usually not encrypted, meaning it is easier for hackers to decode and read.

5. Never give out your card number or any other personal information over the phone unless you are the one who initiated the call.

6. Cut up old and expired credit or debit cards. Cancel and cut up any unused cards. If you receive a replacement card, destroy your old one as soon as the replacement is activated.

7. Whenever you do financial transactions online, always make sure the web page where you conduct the transaction is encrypted. To tell whether a web page is encrypted, make sure that:

   • the website address in the address line begins with "https://"; and
   • there is a "closed lock" icon on your web browser program. Depending on which web browser you're using, the closed lock icon should look like one of the following:

   Web Browser Program	Closed Lock Icon Appears In
   Internet Explorer		Lower right corner of screen
   Mozilla Firefox		Lower right corner of screen
   Apple Safari		On the right side of the address bar (usuallly near middle-top of screen)
   Google Chrome		On the left side of the address bar (usually near the upper right corner of screen)

   A closed lock icon and an "https" address mean that the website you are viewing uses encryption.

    

8. When you use your card to pay at a store or restaurant, keep an eye on the employee running the transaction (the cashier, waiter, etc.), and watch for anything suspicious he or she might try to do with your card. Most store and restaurant employees are honest people, but you should be aware of the few who are not.

9. Shred all receipts with your credit or debit card number, or keep those receipts in a secure place.

Tips for Protecting Your PIN Code

1. Always protect your PIN code. We strongly recommend that you not write down your PIN code. But if you feel you must write it down, store it in a secure place. Absolutely do not write your PIN number on your card, and do not store the PIN code with your card.

2. When setting up your PIN, select a 4-digit code you will remember, but that is hard for someone else to figure out. Do not use names, birth dates, or portions of your Social Security number. We strongly recommend that you not make it any word or number that appears elsewhere in your wallet or purse.

3. Always make sure, when you enter your PIN at ATMs, card readers in stores, or pay-at-the-pump terminals, that no one else can see it. Shield your PIN from peering eyes. If you need to reset your PIN, you may do so at any MUCFCU office.

4. We recommend changing your PINs once every six months, to protect your account.

ATM Safety Tips

1. Always exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings when using an ATM.

2. Watch for any suspicious people or activity near the ATM. If you see suspicious activity, alert the credit union or bank who owns the ATM, or the business where the ATM is located, immediately. If the ATM owner is unavailable, notify police.

3. Always watch for any suspicious, unusual or loose devices on the ATM. Devices such as card skimmers, which allow criminals to steal an ATM user's card information without the user even knowing, are becoming more and more common.

   Note that card skimmers are not only used on ATMs. Skimmers have also been found on pay-at-the-pump gas station terminals.

   If you spot a device that you think might be a skimmer, let the owner of the ATM or payment terminal know immediately. If the owner of the ATM or payment terminal is unavailable, call the police.

4. If someone approaches you and offers to help with an ATM, do not accept his/her help unless you are absolutely certain that the person is a staff member of the credit union or bank that owns the ATM. Politely decline the person's help, and find a staff member of the credit union or bank to help with your transaction.

   You should never accept a stranger's help at an ATM, not even if your card is stuck in the machine.

5. Always shield your PIN when entering it at an ATM or payment terminal.

6. Never display your cash or card number in a way it can be seen by others.

7. If you see any suspicious activity at an ATM you have just used, if your card gets stuck in an ATM, or if you suspect you may have been a victim of fraud at an ATM or payment terminal, contact MUCFCU or the bank/credit union that owns the ATM immediately.