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Our new defense for protecting your credit card data

What do you fear most?

Would you believe that credit and debit card fraud is the No. 1 fear of Americans – exceeding concerns about terrorism, computer and health viruses, and personal safety? That was the finding of a research project conducted last year by Unisys, the information technology company.

Sixty-eight percent of the more than 1,000 respondents surveyed reported being “extremely” or “very” concerned about other people obtaining their credit card data.

Maybe that shouldn’t be surprising in light of news reports of millions of credit card records being stolen in one fell swoop from institutions such as Bank of America and T.J. Maxx. With almost 600 million credit cards in use in the United States, one would imagine the opportunities for fraud are enormous.

That’s why a new worldwide security standard for credit card data has been put into place. Its policies have been implemented at the Rose Hotel to help ensure your credit card information is secure and any notions of security breaches or falling victim to credit card theft can be allayed.

We want you to enjoy your stay, worry free.

The new security policy is called the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, and its guidelines were written by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. The new security standard is designed to help organizations that process card payments prevent credit card fraud. That is accomplished by putting increased controls around the data we collect. The objective is to limit your data’s exposure and the opportunities that it could be compromised.

Get the particulars of this new security standard at this website.

The standard applies to all organizations that hold, process, or exchange cardholder information.

While the Rose Hotel is doing its best to make sure you are never victimized, we also make it a policy to provide helpful information to our guests. Obviously there are numerous steps you can take to prevent your credit card number from falling into the wrong hands.

One of the more comprehensive to-do lists to keep your credit card safe has been compile by insurance giant Nationwide. Be sure to:

• Watch for “shoulder surfing.” Always be aware of your surroundings. ID thieves can write your numbers down quickly if you leave your card out while completing a purchase. They can even take a picture of your information with something as small as a camera cell phone
• Shop online with caution. Be sure you’re using a secure site before entering bank or credit card information online. Use site addresses that begin with https rather than just http, and make sure you can find the locked padlock in your browser window
• Use anti-virus software. Ensure that you are always running the most up-to-date anti-virus program on your computer
• Shred, shred, shred. Shred documents with personal or credit card information on them
• Guard your SSN. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, and have the number removed from your insurance cards and other documents
• Protect your email and computer. Don’t send sensitive information by email. Use a firewall when you connect to the Internet, and use the security features if you use a wireless network
• Stay current with your credit. Review your credit report at least annually. Take advantage of websites such as annualcreditreport.com.
• Review credit card statements. Make sure you’re getting charged the right amount at the right place
• Clean out your wallet. Don’t keep more than two credit cards on hand, and make a copy of them to stick in a different place. Also, write “Ask for ID” on the back of your credit cards so not just anyone can sign for you
• Keep checks in check. After ordering checks, pick them up from the bank yourself. Consider using just your first initial(s) and last name instead of your full name. This will make it more difficult for someone else to forge your signature
• Secure your mail. Get a locking mailbox, and always take outgoing mail to a public drop-box. Have the post office hold your mail if you’ll be away
• Choose passwords wisely. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and other marks to make it harder to crack or steal your password
• Protect passwords. Don’t write down your passwords or keep them out where anybody can read them. Don’t allow your browser to auto-fill passwords since these can be easily stolen
• Beware of “phishing.” Phishing is when would-be identity thieves use a phony email and/or website to fool you into providing your credit card number, password or other information. Don’t respond to these emails. Reputable companies won’t ask for your information in this way
• Keep your PC clean. Use one of the powerful free spyware removers to make sure that no one is “looking over your shoulder”
• Don’t respond to phony phone calls. Unless you called the company, don’t provide unknown callers with personal information regardless of who they say they are.

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