How to Keep Your Debit Card Safe When Shopping Online or Travelling Abroad 

Your money being stored in a bank account linked to your bank card is extremely convenient but does come with risks. With the right details, someone could spend or transfer large amounts of your own money away from you and into the hands of bad actors. So how do you keep your debit card safe when spending with it? This guide explores how. 

Verify the link 

When shopping online, always make sure to verify the link, and make sure that the site you’re on isn’t a carefully crafted copy, or an otherwise shady website that’s designed to take your money. Make sure the site is secure by checking if the link starts with ‘https://’. A secure site will also have a lock symbol next to the link. 

Use personal devices 

When entering sensitive information, always use your personal devices, such as a personal phone or computer, instead of a public tablet at work or in a library. Even when using a personal device, never shop online when using free wifi, as the connections are often exposed, allowing attackers to potentially read your sensitive information and copy it to impersonate you. If possible, only shop online at home, when you are using your private internet connection. 

Don’t store your bank information online 

Some online stores allow you to store your card information with them for easier checkout. While this is convenient for repeated shops, it leaves you vulnerable if the company has a data breach, as your card data may be among the sensitive information obtained. To protect yourself, never store your card information online. While manually entering your information may be slower, it’s also much safer.  

Watch out for card skimmers 

When travelling abroad, make sure that you’re careful about what you put your credit card in. Seemingly innocuous ATMs or payment terminals may secretly have card skimmers lurking inside, which will copy your card details as soon as you insert the card in. If possible, attempt to pay using contactless methods, and only withdraw from reputable ATMs, such as those attached to banks. 

Never reveal your PIN 

Regardless of if you’re shopping online or abroad, ensure that you never let others see your PIN. No reputable company will request for your PIN when shopping online, and if you need to enter your PIN while withdrawing money from an ATM, or while paying a large bill, always make sure to cover your hand when typing your PIN, to prevent others from seeing it. 

What to do if you think your card has been leaked? 

If you think that your card details are no longer private, the first thing you should do is freeze your card, to ensure that anyone with your card details will no longer be able to use them. To freeze your card, navigate to your iFAST Global Bank App, tap on the debit card on the main menu, and press either “Freeze Card” or “Manage Card”. The “Freeze Card” option allows you to instantly block all online payments, and is reversible. Pressing “Manage Card” followed by “Terminate Card” will instantly destroy your card details and set you up with a new one, allowing you to continue your shopping in peace, knowing that anyone who has your old details will be stuck with something useless. 

The best defence is knowing it’s coming 

The best way to protect yourself and your card details is to realise that anyone, including you, can fall victim to having their details stolen. Knowing exactly what to do to shield your card, and how to terminate it if it’s been stolen, is vital, because it means that if someone does take your details, you’ll be able to lock your money down and prevent someone from taking what’s yours.