Virginia Lloyd had often paid for catalog purchases with a check.
But Lloyd, 82, a Columbia resident, learned along with a handful of other senior citizens last week that using credit cards is the safest way to make such purchases.
"It's just simpler," Lloyd said on why she uses checks.
The seniors met Tuesday for discussion about personal and shopping safety at Oakland Manor in Columbia. The event was presented by the county's Office of Consumer Affairs and the Police Department.
Topics ran the gamut, from which method of payment to use when making purchases to stores' return policies. Investigator Lila Boor of the Office of Consumer Affairs said it's best to use credit cards to make catalog and online purchases rather than checks because credit card companies allow 60 days to dispute charges.
"For anything that's not in your hands when shopping, use a credit card. Nowadays, it's just a much more risky way of making payments," Boor said about using checks.
Pfc. Holly Burnham, the senior citizen liaison officer for the Police Department, added that checks include routing numbers, which give criminals the opportunity to access bank accounts. She also said that a person victimized by fraud when using a credit card would have to pay $50 at most if the fraud is verified. With a check, the loss would be for whatever the check amount is.
Boor and Burnham also talked about the differences between what credit and debit cards offer. Debit cards, Burnham said, might not have the same fraud protection as credit cards, depending on the bank.
Another plus about using plastic is that some major credit card companies will double manufacturers' warranties for electronics purchases, excluding vehicles, Boor said.
When making calls that require sharing sensitive information, consumers should use corded landlines because sometimes cell phone and cordless phones can mix frequencies, Boor said.
Another topic discussed was shopping mall safety. Burnham reminded seniors not to forget where their cars are in the parking lots, because that could cause them to become disoriented and more vulnerable to criminals. She also reminded them not to put their purses down while shopping and to bring only what's necessary when going out in case their purses or wallets are stolen.
"If you're going to the mall, you don't need your Social Security card," Burnham said. "Only bring what you need."
