Atworth Village Magazine March 14 Vol.37 No. 03 | Page 13

Send your news, articles and notices to [email protected] Neighbourhood Watch Hi Everyone, Over the coming months I thought I would write about Fraud that can occur in our daily lives. People often think that fraud is a victimless crime, but it affects everyone - not just banks and financial institutions. Anyone who is a victim of fraud knows only too well the inconvenience and distress it causes. In extreme cases innocent individuals may lose livelihoods or life savings. Fraud along with other types of financial crime may be committed by organized criminals who could also be involved in crimes such as drug trafficking and terrorism that affect the country as a whole. Fraud costs the British economy an enormous amount of money, estimated at around £14 billion each year, equivalent to £231 per head. Use of plastic cards for purchases in shops, by mail order or over the internet is increasing. While plastic cards are generally a safe payment method some criminals target them to commit fraud and obtain money or goods illegally. Plastic Cards A great deal of plastic card fraud can be prevented if cardholders take simple steps to protect themselves and remember some key points:  • Treat your cards like cash.  • Always check your bank and credit card statements carefully - report any unusual transactions to your bank or card issuer immediately.  • Store personal information securely and dispose of it carefully  • Rip up or shred documents that contain personal, sensitive or financial information.  • Keep your PIN secret, don't write it down and keep it with your card, don't tell it to anyone else, including your card issuer or the police and never let anyone else use your card and your PIN.  • Don’t let your card out of your sight and never leave it unattended  • Sign any new cards as soon as they arrive and ensure that you cut up the old card as soon as the new card becomes valid.  • Report lost or stolen cards to your card issuer immediately. The telephone number will be on your last statement. Next month I will write about internet shopping and how to go about it safely. Until than stay safe and healthy. Best regards, Rosemary Ward Atworth Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator. Yer Tiz Atworth Village Magazine—March 2014 Page 13