Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reissued her Credit Card Safety consumer alert to help protect consumers from fraudsters, especially during the holiday season. She also released a public service announcement offering tips to avoid holiday scams.
“Having a credit card may be beneficial, but it is important to remember that fraudsters are always on the hunt for credit card numbers, passwords or PINs,” Nessel said. “Please stay alert and keep your personal information secure.”
Credit cards provide users with the convenience of buying now and paying later, often with added benefits like rewards or special promotions. They also offer fraud protection, making them safer than cash. To ensure credit card safety, Nessel advises consumers to follow several guidelines.
First, keeping credit cards secure involves signing new cards upon receipt and using strong, unique passwords and PINs for online accounts. Multi-factor authentication should be used when available. Consumers are advised not to leave their cards unattended or let others use them.
Second, account numbers should remain private. This includes being cautious when sharing information over the phone and ignoring suspicious messages via email or social media.
Third, it is important to keep personal information current with banks by updating contact details regularly and understanding how alerts are sent by financial institutions.
Fourth, consumers should carefully manage receipts by checking them against account statements and shredding old ones.
Fifth, securing devices and networks involves turning off browser Autofill functions for credit card numbers and considering digital wallets for encrypted transactions.
Sixth, online safety measures include shopping only on secure sites that start with "https" and avoiding public Wi-Fi for financial activities.
Seventh, frequent account checks are recommended through bank apps or other means to monitor recent activity and set up alerts for unusual transactions.
Lastly, any unauthorized charges should be reported immediately to the credit card company followed by a written dispute notice.
Consumers can report fraud or file complaints with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team at:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form