Put CHECK ID or SEE ID in the signature slot

Granted most people won't check this anyway, but some might. A thief can also make purchases online or at most gas stations without a signature, but there's one very important advantage here. If someone manages to get your credit card by theft or finding it (fell out of your pants or whatever), but they don't have anything else of yours, they can't forge your signature (which can make it harder to claim that the purchase wasn't yours).

Pay at the register

It only takes a few seconds for a restaurant employee to skim your card with their own personal reader or make a carbon copy impression to use later. If possible, walk the card to a register to pay.

Cross out your card number on receipts

Every time you are handed a receipt, make sure that your full card number is not listed for anyone to see. If it is, scratch it out so hard that you can't even see the impression of the numbers anymore (I usually go right through the paper).

If the store/restaurant employee complains, just remind them that printing the credit card number on a merchant copy is against federal law:

According to the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA), the electronically printed credit and debit card receipts you give your customers must shorten — or truncate — the account information. You may include no more than the last five digits of the card number, and you must delete the card’s expiration date.

Don't let online companies store your data when possible

The simple fact is that companies lose their customer data just a little too easily. What I do know is they can't lose what they don't have so when shopping online, always look for any options in the checkout process to not store your card/information for future use. Most online stores don't offer this yet, but a few do so be on the lookout for it.

Use Virtual Cards

If your bank has this feature, use virtual credit cards. These are one-time use numbers attached to your real credit card, but using a number that's only good under certain restrictions (like a limited number of transactions, specific time span, one-time use at only one store, etc.). This is perfect for doing business with someone while preventing them from storing your credit card number.

REFUSE to use contactless pay systems

The last thing you should have to worry about is your credit card being accessed remotely without your knowledge, but the wireless chips used in some cards make that possible. For example, the EZ-Pass system uses an RFID chip that can be read and easily copied from hundreds of feet away. Once copied, someone can go through the tolls while leaving you with the bill.

If a system doesn't require any physical contact, just proximity, then you're probably using RFID and you're at risk.

1) Ask why they need it

Don't just give it to anyone who asks. It's amazing the places that ask for it that have no use for it at all. I've even been asked for my SSN at a video rental store!

A SSN is used for social security and now, for credit reports. Some non-retailers will still ask to run credit like utility companies because they are essentially entering a credit relationship with you, but for any business that has no legitimate need of your SSN, be as firm as possible about not providing it.

Also, when applying for a job, if they ask for the SSN (which they need to pay you), tell them that you'll provide it AFTER you're hired. In some cases, a credit check is a legitimate part of the hiring process (depending on the job you apply for) in which case you will have to provide it.

2) Ask what happens if you don't provide it

If withholding your number results in not getting service, that's probably fine for some places and not for others. For example, you might need a cell phone for your job and since every cell company asks for a social, you may not have any choice. Move to step 3.

3) Ask to use an alternate ID

Most places that ask for a SSN do so only for laziness because they want some kind of identifier to distinguish you from other customers. Ask them to use an alternate ID.

4) Hold, freeze, or zero

After getting that far and if the first three options haven't helped you, you'll need to make the decision to withhold the number (despite the consequences) or to protect your SSN another way. Withholding it is pretty straightforward.

The second option is to go ahead and provide it knowing that a credit freeze will protect your credit report. It's still better not to let your SSN be spread around any further than it has to so consider the next option instead.

In cases where legal and ethical to do so, you can try this trick: substitute the middle numbers of your actual social security number with 00. No legitmate SSN has any of the three fields all 0's so this is guaranteed not to belong to someone else. In case you ever have to remember the fake you used before, it's easy because it's simply your SSN with the middle two numbers removed.

For information about building a "privacy alias", click here

Product Boxes

The Best Christmas EVER!

VS.

Window Shopping for Thieves

Don't make it easy for people to rob you. Haven't you ever seen a box like this on the curb and thought, "Huh. The Smiths got a new plasma." Thieves see just as well as you do. Come Christmas time, it's pretty easy for them to drive through the neighborhoods and pick targets based on their trash.

Bills and letters

You should never just throw away documents with your valuable data on it. Do you really think people won't go through icky trash to make a mint off your personal data? Shredding is good, but the larger the paper that comes out, the more likely it is that someone will be able to easily piece it back together.

Right now, the only shredders that come close to obliterating your documents is a "Microcut" shredder. They tend to me more expensive, but worth it for the security.

Check out my Shredders and Shredding guide for more information.