As credit card fraud continues to impact people year after year, it’s important to keep your cards and information as secure as possible.  

Fortunately, there are some very simple and easy things you can do to keep your cards, physically and virtually, out of fraudster hands. 

On the list of common types of identity theft, credit card fraud is #2 on the list, just below government docs and benefits fraud. Card fraud can happen to anyone using plastic cards, whether you are shopping physically in-store or virtually online.  

Many steps have been taken to make physical card transactions more secure, such as EMV chips and contactless card functions which protect your transaction behind layers of encryption and security. Unfortunately, even with those new technologies, thieves still try to steal your information with tactics like card skimmers at gas stations or RFID scanners. 

Using your card online can be even trickier, as you could accidentally use your card on a fake website, or your info may get picked up in a data breach and sold on the dark net for someone else to use.  

Fortunately, the growing awareness of credit card theft has led to many actions and tools you can use to keep your cards as secure as possible.   

Here are 6 things you can do to heighten card security. 

1. Use an RFID protection sleeve or wallet. Cards can still get skimmed if you’re in public and if someone gets close enough to scan it with a skimming device. Protecting your card in an RFID protection sleeve or wallet will shield your card if you’re in crowded places where someone could try to steal your information.  

2. Enable card controls and turn off unused or rarely used cards. The ability to turn your card on and off can make a world of a difference when you think your card number may have been stolen. Check your card apps or websites to see if you have card controls and turn off any unused or rarely used cards. This will ensure that even if someone gets ahold of it, your card cannot be used. VIDEO: How To Manage Your Cards in Triangle’s Mobile App  

3. Add your card to your phone’s mobile wallet and leave your physical card at home. Paying with your phone is super convenient and secure. If you want to keep your cards safe from theft, add them to your phone and pay with the added convenience as well as security. Try not to lose your phone, but even if you do, your digital wallet is protected by biometric or PIN security making it hard for criminals to get access. 

4. Make sure you have notifications enabled with your card; you’ll receive a text message every time your card is charged with information, including the dollar amount and merchant. It’s a great feature to have because if you get an alarm notification of a charge you didn’t make, you can act immediately. 

5. Do not save your credit card information in online checkouts. Use a payment processor like PayPal, Venmo, or a virtual card. If available, you can enable them through your card provider. Companies like Capital One, and even Google, can give you an option to enable a virtual card when you checkout. 

6. Register your cards with an identity protection service like IDProtect. If you have a Better Checking account, you already have access to this valuable tool. If you’re registered with IDProtect simply log into idprotectme247.com and set up card registration within your profile. If your identity ever gets compromised, you’ll need to make one phone call with IDProtect who will help close all your cards and reissue new ones in a snap– saving you time and anxiety. 

When it comes to your credit cards, you want to make sure they are as protected as they can be. With all the ways to lock, store and use your cards, you can now take more steps to safeguard your cards from theft.