Whether you’re doing some online shopping, shelling out five bucks for a cappuccino, or just picking up milk at the neighborhood grocery store, you can never be too safe when it comes to protecting yourself from debit card fraud. After all, if you’re like me – and throngs of other plastic-addicted Americans – you’ve probably traded that clumsy, dirty cash for those distinctively divine debit cards. A quick swipe here, a quick swipe there – nothing’s simpler.

But let’s be honest. You’re probably at least a little worried about debit and credit card fraud. And if you aren’t, you should be. Keeping your eyes and ears open and using common sense are the easiest ways to discourage thieves who are vying to get their hands on your credit or debit card information. But you shouldn’t have to bear the burden alone.

Visa Fraud Protection: How’s Your Bank Helping?

As a Bank of America customer, I use my check card for pretty much everything. So I made sure to find out what to expect from my bank in terms of Visa check card protection. Here are just a few of the free Visa fraud protection features offered through Bank of America’s Total Security Protection package:

Zero Liability. If your card is lost or stolen, Bank of America reimburses you for any unauthorized card transactions up to the amount of the loss, when reported within 60 days from statement date.

Guaranteed credit. Your account will be credited by the end of the next business day for unauthorized card transactions if your card is lost or stolen.

Credit Card and Debit Card Fraud Monitoring. Reviews how and where the card is being used and is designed to block potential credit and/or debit if abnormal patterns are detected.

Photo Security®. Say cheese! This is my favorite Visa fraud protection feature. It puts your picture right on the front of the card to help reduce credit card and debit card fraud.

Online Protection. Provides password protection to help prevent others from using your card to make online purchases.

While those are services offered through Bank of America, not every bank is the same. Make sure you check with yours to see what level of Visa check card protection you can expect. If you’re not impressed, it may be time to switch banks. But in the meantime, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from debit card fraud:

Debit Card Fraud: What You Can Do

Watch Your Account. You can quickly spot debit card fraud by checking your account regularly.

Use Alerts. Some financial institutions offer account alerts delivered via cell phone or email. This can offer an extra layer of Visa check card protection.

Check Your Credit Report. Make sure there isn’t anything on it that you don’t recognize.

Don’t Leave A Paper Trail. Don’t write down your PIN – memorize it. (Never use your PIN as a password and, by all means, don’t give it to anyone, either!) Also, don’t forget to take your receipts. They contain a lot of personal information that could be helpful to thieves. Get rid of paper bills and statements by using electronic statements and online banking. This can help prevent debit card fraud.

Online Safety. Never send account information, such as your account number or PIN, in the body of an email. You never know who could be reading it. Beware of phishing emails. (These appear to be from a legitimate bank or company asking you to provide account information. But these emails are bogus.)

Mending Fences. Get a good firewall for your computer and implement anti-spyware and anti-virus software updates as soon as they’re available. Also, be sure the website you’re purchasing from has built-in security features for optimal credit card and Visa check card protection.

This may seem like a lot to remember, but it’s really just common sense. So next time you’re swiping that check card at the mall – remember – these easy steps may keep thieves from swiping that hard-earned cash from your bank account!