The world's biggest credit card company is warning local retailers and banks to beef up security to protect customers.
Two million New Zealanders have Visa cards and for the first time Visa is pushing retailers to try to make systems fraud-proof.
Recently 40 million credit card accounts were stolen in the United States.
Using the palm-sized piece of plastic is a necessity of life for most of us, but the raised numbers on it could make you a target for fraud.
A spate of local credit card scams and the theft of 40 million credit card numbers in the US has Visa warning retailers to tighten security.
"Go back and have a look at your systems if you are holding card holder information," says Iain Jamieson from Visa.
One of the country's biggest businesses, Air New Zealand, constantly reviews its online security system. It does have small instances of fraud, usually from stolen cards, and it says it will consider using extra authentication measures in the future.
"It's kind of a balance between the ease of use and the security, so it's very much the cost associated with making the change compared to the benefit," says Air New Zealand's Doug Blakebrough.
The New Zealand credit card fraud bill is $10 million a year. Visa says by world standards that's fairly low, but the danger is always there.
To try to foil hackers, Visa wants banks to put PIN numbers and electronic chips on new cards.
In the past 12 months in New Zealand Visa says there have been two incidents where shop employees have been caught and convicted of skimming customer credit cards. In one burglary - along with cash and goods - credit card numbers also walked out the door.
The best advice for the consumer is still buyer beware - don't reveal PIN numbers and only use secure online websites.
