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Protecting Your PIN-Number

Protecting your PIN is of utmost importance because crooks can target your number and steal your money. Safeguard your PIN number to reduce the chances of becoming a target. No matter whom you are with or where you are, always keep your PIN a secret.

The following steps can help ensure your PIN is always safe.

Dont’s

  • Don’t write your pin number down or store it in your phone. Always memorize it. A person near you may read your PIN number while you read it as well. In addition, a person can acquire the PIN number from you effortlessly by simply stealing the paper or phone from you.
  • Don’t use obvious information such as your birth date, birth years, social security number, phone number, street number, apartment number or a string of numbers.
  • Don’t choose a number that you use in any other account.
  • Don’t give out your PIN number to anyone. The elderly should be wary of telephone calls or emails that ask to share their PIN numbers.

Do’s

  • Use your free hand to cover the one that punches the PIN number on the keypad. Persons standing around you or behind you in the grocery store or ATM machine may find it hard to identify the number. Also, cameras installed by scammers to capture your PIN number may not be able to do so.
  • Always close the door behind you when using an ATM booth.
  • If the ATM card is used to open the door by inserting it into the slot, you should ensure the door is locked before inserting your card. An unlocked door could be rigged to remain open and collect your card’s data when you use it in that machine.
  • Use sequence of numbers from an old unused company ID or childhood phone number.
  • You can use your personal history to customize your PIN number.
  • If more than four digits are allowed as a PIN number, seniors can add a few more digits to make the number harder to guess.
  • The easiest and probably among the most guess-proof number would be picking birthdates of family members and relatives. For instance, if you have brothers or sisters, you may pick the dates and use them as your PIN. This can be hard to guess but easier for you to remember.
  • Use a favorite holiday as your PIN. It can be hard to guess your favorite holiday.
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