7 steps to avoid falling victim to card fraud
Estimated read time: 3 Minutes
Did you know?
While cyber criminals use increasingly clever tactics to get hold of your money, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk. Here are some simple ways you can reduce your risk of credit card fraud, and keep your money safe online.
1. Read your statements
As soon as you get your card statement, check it carefully for any unusual activity. Remember that some merchants will trade under a different name to the one you’re used to, and that you may have forgotten about direct debits or regular subscriptions.
If there’s a payment that shouldn’t be there, call your card issuer immediately to have it investigated.
%20(1).svg){kind=icon}
2. Shop safely online
Beware of pop-up notifications saying a site is not secure when shopping online. Before you enter any personal details, check the URL starts with ‘https’ – the ‘s’ indicates a secure protocol is in place to protect your details.
Although it seems convenient, it’s not a good idea to save your payment details when prompted to online. If your phone or laptop is stolen or the website is hacked, your card details might be the first thing a cyber-criminal looks for.
3. Know how to spot phishy messages
If you think phishing (Email), vishing (phone) and smishing (sms) are some new-age slang, you’re not alone. But in fact, they are common types of scams sent via email, phone or SMS messages to get you to part with your hard-earned dollars. In 2023 Australians lost over $25.9 million to phishing scams alone3.
It's important that you report any suspicious messages to your lender or you can report it directly to Scamwatch.
4. Keep your personal info out of the bin
5. Keep your card safe
Contactless technology like Visa payWave® has made everyday purchases much faster and more convenient. But it’s also made it easier for criminals to access your money if they get their hands on your card. So, make sure you keep it safe at all times and if you lose it, contact your card issuer immediately.
If you’ve decided not to use your card, that’s OK – but don’t just leave it in a drawer and forget about it. Let your card provider know, as you may have the option to place a temporary block on the card until you want to use it again.
6. Free WiFi may not be worth the risk
7. Notify your card provider if you’re travelling
Suspicious activity on your Pepper Visa Debit Card?
Pepper’s Visa Debit card provider is Indue, so if you suspect a fraudulent transaction on your Pepper loan Visa Debit card, please contact them immediately on 07 3258 4240 or email fraudservices@indue.com.au. You can also call their 24-hour Visa emergency hotline, on 1800 621 199 for out of hours support.
Need more information? Visit our Help Centre Visa Debit card assistance page.
Visa Debit card is issued by Indue Limited ABN 97 087 822 464 and distributed by Pepper Finance Corporation Limited ACN 094 317 647 and/or through Pepper Money accredited mortgage brokers.
Refer to the Conditions of Use and Target Market Determination (TMD).
Contributor | Steve Meek, Chief Information Officer
Steve joined Pepper Money in 2021 as Chief Information Officer. With over 20 years of diverse experience, he specialises in leveraging technology to drive business growth, enhance operational performance, improve customer experience, and foster innovation. Read more.
Sign up to our newsletter
If you like this article, you'll love our monthly Real Lives newsletter.
View our Privacy Policy
Money management tips and tricks
From budgeting advice to tips to help your savings go that bit further, our resources have it all.
Information provided is factual information only and is not intended to imply any recommendation about any financial product(s) or constitute tax advice. If you require financial or tax advice you should consult a licensed financial or tax adviser.
All applications for credit are subject to credit assessment, eligibility criteria and lending limits. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply.
The results of the borrowing power calculator are based on information you have provided and is to be used as a guide only. The output of the calculator is subject to the assumptions provided in the calculator (see 'about this calculator') and are subject to change. It does not constitute a quote, pre-qualification, approval for credit or an offer for credit and you should not enter commitments based on it. The interest rates do not reflect true interest rates and the formula used for the purpose of calculating estimated borrowing power is based on the assumption that interest rates remain constant for the chosen loan term. Your borrowing power amount will be different if a full application is submitted and we complete responsible lending assessment. The results in the calculator do not take into account loan setup or establishment fees nor government, statutory or lenders fees, which may be applicable from time to time. Calculator by Widgetworks.
Pepper Money Personal Loans is a brand of Pepper Money Limited. Credit is provided by Now Finance Group Pty Ltd, Australian Credit Licence Number 425142 as agent for NF Finco 2 Pty Limited ACN 164 213 030. Personal information for Pepper Money Personal Loans is collected, used and disclosed in accordance with Pepper’s Privacy Policy & the credit provider’s Privacy Policy.
Pepper Money Limited ABN 55 094 317 665; AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 286655 (“Pepper”). All rights reserved. Pepper is the servicer of home loans provided by Pepper Finance Corporation Limited ABN 51 094 317 647. Pepper Asset Finance Pty Limited ACN 165 183 317 Australian Credit Licence 458899 is the credit provider for asset finance loans.
Pepper and the Pepper Money logo are registered trademarks of Pepper Group Assets (Australia) Pty Limited and are used under licence.
