How to keep your transaction cards safe

Having a couple of debit and credit cards herself, Darcie Conforti has some personal safeguards so she won’t be robbed of her money.

For example, if she’s shopping online she will only use her credit card.

“(I do that so) if something were to happen it wouldn’t deplete my checking account. It would just be on my credit card and then I could deal with the credit card company,” Conforti said.

Conforti is so careful because she’s seen what’s happened to others who have not protected themselves.

“I don’t feel like we’re ever really safe,” she said.

The past couple days, the Pocatello Police Department has reported several arrests of a man using a transaction card that wasn’t his. In Bannock County, there were 65 criminal financial transaction card felonies filed in 2014. That number went up to 68 felonies in 2015.

Idaho Central Credit Union’s card manager Mason Oswald said everyone should keep all financial information secure and under guard 24/7. Friends and family shouldn’t even have access to your information.

Oswald also recommends to use an EMV chip card whenever you can, and if you’re online shopping, take extra steps to make sure your wireless connection is secure.

However, if you can’t find your card or think it’s been stolen, the first thing you should do is contact your financial institution.

“For Idaho Central members, we’ll make sure your card is turned off so that you’re not going to run into fraudulent situations,” Oswald said.

A lot of banks like Idaho Central Credit Union have things in place in case you become a victim of financial theft. One that ICCU has is called “instant issue,” where a customer can get a new card to replace a compromised one instantly.