Scammers Targeting Those Waiting for Chip Credit Cards

Experts are warning against a scam targeting those who have not yet received their chip credit cards.

The chip credit cards, rolled out this fall with a deadline of Oct. 1, are designed to reduce fraud by making working fake cards more difficult to produce. But now scammers are taking advantage of the new cards to glean personal information from people.

Here’s what scammers do, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): they email people, pretending to be a card issuer, and claim that in order to receive a chip card, you need to update your account by confirming some personal information.

Or, scammers are asking them to click on a link to update their account.

If you provide personal information, the scammer can use it to commit identity theft, and if you click on the link, you may be unwittingly installing malware on your device.

Here are some warning signs to look out for, according to the (FTC): Your card issuer has no reason to contact you by email, so ignore any surprise correspondence.

Also be wary of links in emails and only provide personal information through a company’s website.