Identity Theft and Data Breach News | ID Experts Corporate Blog » mastercard http://blog.idexpertscorp.com ID Experts Corporate Blog Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:00:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Card Compromise- What to Do if Your Bank is Closed http://blog.idexpertscorp.com/2009/12/card-compromise-what-to-do-if-your-bank-is-closed/ http://blog.idexpertscorp.com/2009/12/card-compromise-what-to-do-if-your-bank-is-closed/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:22:59 +0000 admin http://blog.idexpertscorp.com/?p=221 When holidays around the corner, the amount of fraudulent activity tends to increase. As we all know, the most important aspect of stopping fraud is reporting it immediately. Unfortunately, the holidays also mean that many financial institutions and companies are closed in observation. While many banks provide a 24/7 support year-round for reporting cards lost or stolen, some financial institutions do not. Even if your bank does provide the support, the only record you may have of that phone number may be on the card itself, so if you lose the card or have it stolen you might be at a loss where to call.

Luckily, most debit and credit cards are now backed by Visa or MasterCard. If your card is backed by one of these issuers, you may want to take this number down for emergencies. You know your card is backed if you see the Visa or MasterCard logo on the front.  If you are unable to contact your bank and you have had fraud or lost your card, you can use these numbers to get assistance. The representatives there can either put you in touch with the correct call center to block the card right away, or provide the service directly depending on your bank. In a pinch, these numbers can be essential.

VISA — 1-800-847-2911

1-800-MasterCard (1-800-627-8372)

Keep this information handy, but somewhere other than with your wallet (in case you lose it). I keep a long list of company phone numbers- everything from insurance to credit cards- just in case. These numbers are at the top of my list, and I have used them several times with great success. Be prepared, and all your holiday surprises will be pleasant!

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