How To Make Your PIN Number More Secure

We share lots of things with our families, but our personal identification number should never be one of them. With March being Fraud Prevention Month in Canada, the federal government is reminding Canadians to protect their personal information.

“Always protect your PIN,” says Jane Rooney, Canada’s financial literacy leader. “Never share your PIN, not even with a spouse.”

Here are six easy tips she has for her family and all Canadians:

1. Make PINs hard to guess but easy to remember so that you don’t have to write them down. Never use a combination of numbers like your address, birth date, social insurance number, or telephone number.

2. Change your PINs often.

3. Never share your PIN with anyone, including family and friends. Sharing your PIN, even with someone you trust, could void your consumer protection rights against fraud.

4. Cover the keypad when entering the PIN at a retailer or bank machine.

5. When using your card during a transaction, keep it in sight at all times.

6. Check your bank account records regularly for any errors or irregularities and report them to your bank or credit union immediately.

Find more information online at itpaystoknow.gc.ca.

SOURCE: www.newscanada.com