Credit or debit cards are known as “plastic money”. Today, there are more than 2.8 billion of them in circulation in the world. Beyond the environmental impact they cause, in this article we explain how to avoid having your wallet stolen.

We have already told you about the origin of the credit card in La Plaça. Many years have passed since McNamara’s famous idea and the techniques that thieves use to steal money from the card have also evolved. So, if you haven’t switched to virtual cards and still use the so-called “plastic money”, here are four tips to avoid being taken for a ride.

1. You are the one who has to swipe your card through the dataphone. If you buy in a shop, never let the salesperson take the card and you cannot see the dataphone. There are many card copiers that, just by swiping the card, copy all the data. It is therefore important that you are the one who swipes the card over the dataphone. 
2. Make sure that the device does not have any strange wires. If you swipe your card yourself, especially if you are not making a purchase at a trusted merchant, make sure that there is no device, large or small, connected to the dataphone. Nowadays, there are many devices that connect to the dataphone and can also copy data. Therefore, if the device is not wireless, check that only a cable is hanging from it.
3. Do not make purchases using WIFI or public computers. WIFI networks and public computers have made the internet accessible to everyone, but virtual shopping is best done with your personal computer and from your home WIFI. Encourage safe shopping. 
4. Avoid ‘fishing’. Finally, avoid so-called ‘fishing’ whenever possible. Whether by phone call or e-mail, some thieves have specialised in asking for your card details with the excuse that they need them for a service you have contracted. Do not give out any personal or financial information except through the service’s corporate intranet or in the shop itself.

11Onze is becoming a phenomenon as the first Fintech community in Catalonia. Now, it releases the first version of El Canut, the super app of 11Onze, for Android and Apple. El Canut, the first universal account can be opened in Catalan territory.