Most of us enjoy the convenience of paying for goods and services with a credit card or debit card. Unfortunately, some people become victims of credit card fraud, one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. You may not may know of fraudulent activity on your credit card account until you see unauthorized transactions on your statement.
Here are 12 simple steps to mitigate the possibility of fraud on your credit card account:
- Keep both your personal identity and credit card information secure. Never email your credit card details to anyone. Email is not a secure method of transmitting data and can often be intercepted by criminals.
- When you receive a new credit card always sign it immediately; alternatively, write "Check ID" in the signature area so that sales clerks will check for proper identification.
- When you receive a replacement credit card always destroy the old card immediately. Cut or shred the old card into many small pieces.
- Make sure you destroy old receipts that have your card details printed on them. The most effective method is to use a shredder. Some shredders will now shred plastic cards and computer CD's or DVD's, too.
- Open and check your credit card statement as soon as you receive it. Read it carefully to make sure you know what all the payments printed on the statement were for, and that you authorized them.
- If you see any transactions on your credit card statement that you do not recognize, immediately contact your bank or credit card company for more details, and to possibly report fraudulent activity.
- If you misplace your credit card for any reason, immediately telephone the card issuing company and tell them. They will block the card to prevent any unauthorized use, and issue a new card to you.
- Never tell anyone, for any reason, your Personal Identification Number (PIN), which allows cash withdrawals using your credit card.
- Make sure your Personal Identification Number (PIN) is not easy for someone to guess. Avoid using numbers that are easy to guess, for example do not use your date of birth or address. Also, try to use a different Personal Identification Number for each individual credit card or debit/ATM card.
- Do not use an ATM if you suspect, for any reason, that it has been tampered with. Report your suspicion immediately to the bank that operates the ATM.
- When you use your credit card in a retail store or restaurant try to keep a watch on your card while the payment is processed. Make sure that it is your card that is handed back to you.
- When using your credit card to make online purchases, always ensure the web page where you enter your credit card details is secure. A secure web page has a URL that begins https:// and an image of a locked padlock in the bottom right hand corner of the browser window. If in doubt, try to make the purchase in person.
Following these simple precautions will reduce the possibility of you becoming a victim of identity theft or credit card fraud. Check with your bank or credit card company, they may have further information on minimizing the risk of credit card fraud, so it is worth contacting them.
tag: prevent credit card fraud identity theft prevention
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