I used to be afraid of spiders and sharks......

As a Queenslander, these were quite legitimate fears. Now my worries are of my

bank account or credit card being ripped off. But no worries. Insecticide and swimming pool solve the spider and shark issues.

With all this bank hacking stuff going on every day, I have given some deep and meaningful thought to how I can best protect myself from the robber barons.   So, a while back , I approached my bank for a pre-paid credit card . This is one where you put your money into your bank account  first and then shop on line. I found it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be to get one.  I don’t think the banks are very anxious to give you this kind of card, much preferring, no doubt, for you to have a card you pay interest on and the retailers get slammed  too.  Double whammy, great for the banks!!! This, of courses, pushes up the prices on everything you purchase.   For me, a pre-paid credit card has calmed the anxiety of buying from unknown sites.

However, there are another couple of issues I have with credit cards. The first one is that shiny icon now on your credit cards. Just flash it into the face of the card reader, and, hey presto, the transaction is completed. No pin number or ID required. Just go for it. Lots of fun could be had with your lost or stolen card.  My bank allows no other option, I just have to take what I am generously given, in an effort to push myself into debt. Kind to a fault, these banks!!

And, then, there are the delights of the Debit Card. What a masterful stroke of evil genius.  You blithely give out your debit card number and details and, if the person is dishonest, you have just given them access to all the money you have  in the bank account tied to the debit card. And guess what? Goodbye money.

So, my thought for the day is, don’t trust anybody where your money is concerned.