Credit cards have become a crucial part of our daily life as it acts as a financial instrument that helps to overcome cash crunch without any extra fee or interest rate for a particular period, generally 30 days. While credit card usage has increased significantly over the years, people now mostly prefer credit cards for shopping, paying bills, booking tickets, etc. At a time when credit cards have clearly revolutionised the way we make payments and manage our finances, it also comes with a set of red flags that cardholders need to keep in mind before using them, especially while shopping offline.

While we are aware of the drawbacks that come with digital payments, there are a lot of things that must be kept in mind when making offline payments, for instance at a supermarket or a shopping mall.

Keep these things in mind while shopping offline with your credit cards to ensure safe transactions and to avoid any financial losses.

Safety tips for using credit cards for offline shopping

Carry your card safely: While going to supermarkets or shopping malls, one should carry their credit cards safely in their wallets to ensure that they are not stolen or lost.

Keep personal information secure: While credit card payments usually require the card and the PIN or signature, it is suggested that you shield the pin when entering it at the checkout keypad. Also, refrain from sharing other personal details as they are usually not necessary.

Check for skimming devices: The use of skimming devices for debit/credit card-related fraud has become quite prevalent nowadays. These devices are capable of lifting your credit card information when you swipe your card at a terminal or an ATM. In such cases, cardholders need to check your alignment issues or loose parts on the card reader panel at the payment terminal.

Always check receipts after payments: Some shops often tend to overcharge when making payments with credit cards. It is important to always review your receipts after making a payment and double-check the items to ensure that you are not being overcharged.

Ensure safe online networks: One should avoid using any public or open WiFi networks when making payments on credit cards. Instead, one should use their own cellular data or a trusted private network.

Check credit card statements regularly: If you frequently use your credit cards for both online and offline payments, it is suggested that you check your credit card statements on a regular basis. There might be instances when fraudsters manage to make purchases with your credit cards and you will never know about them if you don’t check your monthly statements.