GWTW B2 Unit 5 Reading

Looking after your money

As our banking system becomes more sophisticated, so do the criminals who are trying to steal our money. Once upon a time, all we had to do to protect ourselves from theft was to look after our wallets and keep our doors locked. (a) But don’t worry, read our guide to how you can protect yourself from financial crime.

Although most of us tend to use contactless to pay for the things we buy these days, cash is still an important part of the economy, and thieves have developed some high-tech ways to try and steal your money, even before you’ve laid a hand on it. One way is by installing a ‘skimmer’ to an ATM. This is a small device that reads the electronic details on your card as you put it into the machine. This information can be used to copy your card, which they can use or sell. Before you’re going to use an ATM, look out for anything unusual attached to it, and if you think something looks suspicious, walk away. A skimmer may also be used in conjunction with a tiny camera attached to the machine that records your PIN number as you enter it in the keypad. (b)

With the huge increase in the popularity of contactless payment cards, it’s vital that we are more cautious than ever before. (c) In a café or restaurant, never let the waiter take your card away from the table to pay the bill. It’s so easy for someone to swipe your card through a card reader or just tap it on a contactless payment machine.

It isn’t just when you’re out shopping that you need to be careful. (d) So, when you think you’ve snapped up a bargain and are about to enter your payment details to make the purchase, have a look at the address bar in your browser. Is the address for the company you think it is? Can you see a lock symbol or ‘https’ at the start of the address? If not, you might want to think twice about using it.

Where you do your Internet shopping is also important. Avoid using open wi-fi networks in cafés, libraries or other public spaces. These are unsecured, and you never know who else is on the network and what technology they are using to view your activities. (e)

Finally, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So, beware of links that are emailed to you or on your newsfeed in your social media accounts with incredible discounts and offers. Never give your bank account details or card number to anyone you don’t know, and never, ever pay in advance for a prize, a loan or a job. And finally, if your bank calls to warn you that you’ve been the victim of financial crime, hang up the phone, and then call them back on their advertised phone number. (f)

Read the article about looking after your money and match the sentences to the gaps. There are two extra ones which you do not need to use.

Looking after your money

As our banking system becomes more sophisticated, so do the criminals who are trying to steal our money. Once upon a time, all we had to do to protect ourselves from theft was to look after our wallets and keep our doors locked. (a) But don’t worry, read our guide to how you can protect yourself from financial crime.

Although most of us tend to use contactless to pay for the things we buy these days, cash is still an important part of the economy, and thieves have developed some high-tech ways to try and steal your money, even before you’ve laid a hand on it. One way is by installing a ‘skimmer’ to an ATM. This is a small device that reads the electronic details on your card as you put it into the machine. This information can be used to copy your card, which they can use or sell. Before you’re going to use an ATM, look out for anything unusual attached to it, and if you think something looks suspicious, walk away. A skimmer may also be used in conjunction with a tiny camera attached to the machine that records your PIN number as you enter it in the keypad. (b)

With the huge increase in the popularity of contactless payment cards, it’s vital that we are more cautious than ever before. (c) In a café or restaurant, never let the waiter take your card away from the table to pay the bill. It’s so easy for someone to swipe your card through a card reader or just tap it on a contactless payment machine.

It isn’t just when you’re out shopping that you need to be careful. (d) So, when you think you’ve snapped up a bargain and are about to enter your payment details to make the purchase, have a look at the address bar in your browser. Is the address for the company you think it is? Can you see a lock symbol or ‘https’ at the start of the address? If not, you might want to think twice about using it.

Where you do your Internet shopping is also important. Avoid using open wi-fi networks in cafés, libraries or other public spaces. These are unsecured, and you never know who else is on the network and what technology they are using to view your activities. (e)

Finally, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So, beware of links that are emailed to you or on your newsfeed in your social media accounts with incredible discounts and offers. Never give your bank account details or card number to anyone you don’t know, and never, ever pay in advance for a prize, a loan or a job. And finally, if your bank calls to warn you that you’ve been the victim of financial crime, hang up the phone, and then call them back on their advertised phone number. (f)

Read the article about looking after your money and match the sentences to the gaps. There are two extra ones which you do not need to use.

Looking after your money

As our banking system becomes more sophisticated, so do the criminals who are trying to steal our money. Once upon a time, all we had to do to protect ourselves from theft was to look after our wallets and keep our doors locked. (a) But don’t worry, read our guide to how you can protect yourself from financial crime.

Although most of us tend to use contactless to pay for the things we buy these days, cash is still an important part of the economy, and thieves have developed some high-tech ways to try and steal your money, even before you’ve laid a hand on it. One way is by installing a ‘skimmer’ to an ATM. This is a small device that reads the electronic details on your card as you put it into the machine. This information can be used to copy your card, which they can use or sell. Before you’re going to use an ATM, look out for anything unusual attached to it, and if you think something looks suspicious, walk away. A skimmer may also be used in conjunction with a tiny camera attached to the machine that records your PIN number as you enter it in the keypad. (b)

With the huge increase in the popularity of contactless payment cards, it’s vital that we are more cautious than ever before. (c) In a café or restaurant, never let the waiter take your card away from the table to pay the bill. It’s so easy for someone to swipe your card through a card reader or just tap it on a contactless payment machine.

It isn’t just when you’re out shopping that you need to be careful. (d) So, when you think you’ve snapped up a bargain and are about to enter your payment details to make the purchase, have a look at the address bar in your browser. Is the address for the company you think it is? Can you see a lock symbol or ‘https’ at the start of the address? If not, you might want to think twice about using it.

Where you do your Internet shopping is also important. Avoid using open wi-fi networks in cafés, libraries or other public spaces. These are unsecured, and you never know who else is on the network and what technology they are using to view your activities. (e)

Finally, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. So, beware of links that are emailed to you or on your newsfeed in your social media accounts with incredible discounts and offers. Never give your bank account details or card number to anyone you don’t know, and never, ever pay in advance for a prize, a loan or a job. And finally, if your bank calls to warn you that you’ve been the victim of financial crime, hang up the phone, and then call them back on their advertised phone number. (f)

Read the article about looking after your money and match the sentences to the gaps. There are two extra ones which you do not need to use.