Page 20 - 101+ Tips for Solo Women Travelers

28 Pay with a credit card, not a debit card

If you are going to pay for goods or services with a card, a credit card is
the better option. A debit card takes the money from your account immediately,
making it harder to get back if there is a problem. Also, most credit cards offer some
protection against unauthorized transactions, whereas most debit cards do not.
Even if your bank does protect you from unauthorized uses, it can take weeks to get
the money back.

29 Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees

Some credit cards charge exorbitant fees every time you use them. Find
out if yours does by visiting the card company’s website (or just call and ask).
Credit cards marketed to travelers often claim “no fees” on foreign transactions.
In some cases there is no fee at all; in others, the bank might only charge the 1%
or so that the international networks charge for making the exchange.
30 Sign up for push notifications

If your bank supports it, enable mobile push notifications for every
transaction made with your card. This way, if your card is stolen or skimmed, you
will be instantly aware of fraudulent transactions and can notify your bank to
disable the card immediately. Otherwise, just check your transactions online at
the end of each day to make sure there is nothing suspicious going on.
31 Choose chip cards

These use an EMV chip instead of a magnetic strip to store sensitive data.
EMV stands for “Europay, Mastercard, Visa” respectively, and while the chip technology
cannot protect you from all types of breaches, it’s harder for scammers to skim.

Shield your PIN and watch out for tampered
32ATM machines

When entering your PIN number into the ATM, use your other hand and/or body to
obscure the view of the keypad from a potential “shoulder surfing” thief. Before you
do any transaction, check the machine for signs of a false front. Some scammers
install pinhole cameras that capture your pin number as you enter it. Make sure the
card slot is not loose or too wide or unusual in any way—even an odd color scheme. If
the keypad feels soft or spongy, don’t use it. It could be an overlay that captures your
info and relays it to criminals. The bottom line: if anything looks awry, walk away.

20

8029_101-Tips_Revised-TIPS.indd 20 1/20/22 1:32 PM