How to safely share your credit card information [Tips from an IT Support Company] (2024)

FAQs

How do I securely share credit card details? ›

Avoid sharing credit card details over email and text messages, or by giving people written notes. Where possible, use a secure payment details manager like Dropbox Passwords to share your details, as you can keep an eye on who has access and revoke it at any time.

Best practices for security

Limit the information shared: Only provide essential details required to complete the transaction. In addition to your Credit Card number, this may include the card's expiration date, security code (CVV) and your billing address. Avoid sharing sensitive information unless necessary.

Credit and debit card details are some of the most important pieces of personal information that we own. When you hand them over to a company, whether it's online or over the telephone, you put yourself at risk of fraud. Credit cards have security features that can help you to prevent fraudulent activity.

Don't provide your CVV when using your credit or debit card in person. Don't make payments over the phone with your credit card, unless you make the call directly and know it's a trusted vendor. Scammers have been known to cold-call victims to perpetrate financial fraud.

Card details: Information such as expiry date of your credit or debit card, its number, and your full name are prominently displayed on the card. Your name would be known to most people, but you should not share any other information printed on the card. It is printed there for you, not for others.

Never give out your CVV when using your credit or debit card in person. Anyone asking for your CVV during an in-person transaction could be trying to steal your information. It's only safe to give your CVV number over the phone or on a secure site. Never give out your CVV when paying in person.

Only provide your card details if you called them.

Scammers attempt to steal your personal information by calling you and posing as a legitimate business. Once you're ready to make a purchase, be sure that you call the company directly.

If you need to send credit card information to someone, you should do so using a secure method such as a secure file sharing service or encrypted email. You should also never include credit card information in an email signature, as this can be easily intercepted by someone who has access to your email account.

Criminals often steal card data by running it through a skimmer device that records the information. Skimmers can be attached to legitimate credit card readers at gas pumps, ATMs, parking meters, vending machines and other unmanned credit card readers.

How to avoid getting your credit card hacked? ›

There is no reason to provide the CVV for a refund. None. It is used only when making a charge.

These details are the first level of security and should not be shared with anyone. The most important number though on your card is the CVV. The CVV needs to be kept secret in order to safeguard your card against misuse by unauthorised persons.

Also, you should never share your personal banking details, such as PIN, card number, card expiry date and CVV number (that's the three digit number, which, in Starling's case can be found on the right side of the signature strip).

Only provide your card details if you called them.

Scammers attempt to steal your personal information by calling you and posing as a legitimate business. Once you're ready to make a purchase, be sure that you call the company directly.

In general, it is safe to give out your credit card number online or by phone. Never give out your card number if: You have any doubts about the security of the transaction. You did not initiate the transaction.

Yes, faxing personal information is safe. As cited above, encryption and two-factor authentication are strong security measures to ensure safety, but users should always take precautions to prevent unauthorized access to documents and sensitive information.

Password-protected Emails keep your financial information secure even if the recipient doesn't use end-to-end encryption. Just make sure you've shared the password with them via a different means of communication — or at least from a different email address.