Credit Card Safety Key to Safe Holiday Shopping

Credit and debit cards are modern conveniences, but criminals have figured out several methods to steal, swipe or skim your financial information embedded in the card.

Several times this year, investigators with the Westerville Division of Police (WPD) have arrested multiple criminals for credit card thefts and fraud. In July, WPD broke a regional credit card fraud ring after a 15-month investigation conducted in cooperation with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Division of Police and the U.S. Secret Service, as well as several local businesses.

“Credit card fraud is getting worse, and this is happening in Westerville just as often as in Columbus or anywhere else,” said Lt. Paul Scowden. “Criminals are getting more sophisticated and even more brazen in identity theft, so it’s important to be diligent in protecting your information.” Shred, shred, shred. Yes, criminals are still known to “Dumpster dive” in order to find credit card or bank statements in a person’s trash. Use a paper shredder to completely destroy the documents you no longer need, or save them and take advantage of the “Shredding Day” service offered by Westerville Parks & Recreation each spring. Also, almost all financial institutions offer electronic statements. Opt in to have them delivered to you via email.

Monitor your mail. Stealing statements directly from the mailbox and re-routing the delivery address is another scheme. If you are expecting them to be delivered to the home, keep an eye out for them. Again, electronic payments and statements can help reduce this risk.

Track your statements. Keep track of your statements and regularly scan for discrepancies. Report anything unusual to your bank or credit card provider immediately, but also contact the credit bureaus and file a police report. Many reputable resources online offer step-by-step instructions on how to begin the process if you believe your identity may have been stolen.

Keep the card in sight. Maintain control of your card by swiping it yourself when you can, or keep your eyes on it at all times. Giving your card to a server at a restaurant, for example, is a typical way a card will go to a second location. In some cases, criminals have swiped a card through another reader to make a copy of the card’s information. Lt. Scowden says this method is also used at drive-through windows, where criminals quickly make a duplicate swipe. Watch and make sure they are not using multiple swipes to approve a charge, which may indicate the card reader is electronically copying the information off the magnetic strip for use later. Use cash when you can. Although this may not always be the most practical solution, save the use of a credit or debit card for when you can be more in control of the card. When shopping online, make sure the shopping portal is secure.

Parks & Recreation Special Events in November and December

Check out the full listing of events and holiday happenings online at www.westerville.org/parks. Note that most activities require registration and some events have associated fees.

teen Night

Friday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Dec. 14 – 6-9 p.m.

Westerville Community Center $5 per person; ages 11-14.

Military Service Appreciation Day

Sunday, Nov. 11 – noon-5 p.m.

Westerville Community Center

All active, retired and reserve military personnel have free access to the pool, gym and fitness area. Immediate family members receive half-price admission.

Veteran’s Day Celebration

Monday, Nov. 12 – 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Westerville Community Center

Pancake breakfast ($4 for attendees except veterans) in honor of our military veterans.

Swim with Santa

Sunday, Nov. 25 – 6-7:15 p.m.

Westerville Community Center

Pool time with Santa, photo included.

Snowflake Castle

Dec. 3-8 – Visit the Parks & Recreation website for times.

Everal Barn and Homestead

Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and help make a toy in the workshop.

Noon-lite Madness

Monday, Dec. 31

Westerville Community Center

It’s a preschoolers’ New Year’s Eve celebration with crafts and entertainment. FOLLOW

As another added measure of protection, always remain mindful of how you provide your credit card information to others. Be cautious about providing your credit card numbers over a cell phone, and avoid loaning your card to anyone, including family members.

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