Ensuring that your credit card is safe is probably one of the first things you need to learn when you first get a credit card for yourself. Making sure you have followed the guidelines given here will help you keep the credit card safe from misuse to a vast extent. Of course we have hackers who have risen above all these precautions, but we can try our best to keep some of these factors in place, so as to ensure a trouble free credit card usage. As they say, it is better to be safe rather than sorry.

One of the first things you can do when you receive your credit card is to sign your card. As soon as you receive it, sign on the space given at the back of the card. This is but a basic precaution to ensure that no one steals it and uses it before you can sign on it.

When you visit an ATM, ensure that no one is hanging about the place or peering above your shoulder. They could easily get your PIN and then there is nothing you can do. When you are punching in your PIN make sure no can follow your finger movements and thereby find out your PIN.

Always, always, take your receipt with you when you leave the ATM or shred it thoroughly before you leave it in the dustbin. You must always ensure that you leave the ATM only after the screen returns to the original and not before you have closed the operation entirely. You are bound to encounter miscreants waiting for such lapses on a consumer's part and hack into their account.

Never ever give your credit card number to anyone unless you made the call. When use a cordless phone when you reveal your credit card number to a merchant establishment. There are radio scanners that enable miscreants to overhear your conversation and then you have a security breach. You might find a call soon after you give your card number asking you to repeat the number or they might even say they seem to be experiencing some problem and you need to repeat the number. All such calls are spell danger and are best avoided. Call your contact at the store immediately and verify the call.

Ensure that you get your card back after a purchase is made and always keep a list of your credit cards with their numbers and toll-free numbers to ensure safe transactions in case you lose your card. Check your statement when you get it. You might have been billed wrongly. Call and notify the bank or card issuer immediately to avoid having to pay for something you have not purchased.