It is very important in credit card fraud prevention that you keep all records of credit card transactions in a secure place. This applies both to paper records and computerised records. With regard to the latter, you should make sure that any computers on which the records are kept are in a secure place, are password-protected, are properly firewalled and protected from spyware and viruses. Ideally it is best to have a separate computer which is not connected to the internet or your internal network for holding sensitive details. We are able to provide friendly help and advice on all these matters. Moreover, you must ensure that you only store the data you are legally allowed to store. For example, you can only store the last four characters of the card number (PAN).   You can NEVER storing the customers' CSC data is strictly prohibited under card scheme rules. This applies to all CNP merchants capturing the CSC electronically, through a voice recognition system or manually. Specific rules for CNP mail order merchants are obtainable from acquirers. If you retain copies of card details or faxes where the CSC may be visible, you should blank this information out before storing. Card scheme rules state that merchants undertaking subsequent transactions must not re- use CSC data.

We hope you have found these guidelines helpful. However, we are not encouraging paranoia. We have rarely come across cases of credit card fraud - not altogether surprising as all our clients give such personal service to their customers. However, as the old saying goes, better to be "safe than sorry".