Do-It-Yourself Measures To Prevent Credit Card Fraud
PROUDLY HOMEMADE
Do-It-Yourself Measures To Prevent Credit Card Fraud
Copyright 2005 Money and Credit Information
The world is fraught with deceit, and that is the sad truth. Naturally, with how credit cards have taken a comparable level importance with money, the number of reported cases regarding credit card fraud has dramatically risen in recent years.
The most common case of credit card fraud, of course, is that which results from actual theft. This happens when your wallet or purse is stolen, and the thief finds a way to use your credit card.
But with the advent of the Internet, and consequently, online transactions, new forms of credit card fraud have entered the picture. One of them is called misappropriation. All that a thief needs to create havoc on your credit life is your credit card number—not your actual card.
Here are a few ways that this type of theft can happen:
1. One day you get a phone call, and the person on the other end of the line tells you that they have a special offer, usually good for only a day or so, and that you simply need to provide them with your credit card number to make a purchase. The solution? Don’t ever give out your credit card number to anyone who calls you. Only provide it if you have called the company to place an order, and you are positive that it is a well-established reputable business.
2. You are shocked to find that someone has gone through the bags of trash that you set outdoors for the early morning trash pick-up. A few days later when you receive your credit card statement, there are dozens of unauthorized charges. The solution? Always tear up your credit card receipts and bank statements before putting them in the trash. Many thieves go through unguarded trash bags specifically looking for these papers.
3. You go out to eat in a restaurant and pay the bill with your credit card. On your next credit card statement, you notice that there are unauthorized charges that started the same day as your restaurant meal. It turns out that the waiter made an extra imprint of your card when he rung up your bill, and then used the number to go shopping. The solution? Many restaurants have placed their credit card processing centers in plain view of the customer’s sight to combat this problem. If not, you could follow the waiter to the charge station, and watch him throughout the process. It’s also important to make sure that they know that they are being watched.
But there are some ways that you could avail of to fight the possibility of credit card fraud. Here are some of them:
* Carry your credit card and pertinent bank information in a place other than your wallet or your purse. This way, even if a thief would be able to nab them, your virtual cash would be safe.
* Take with you the credit card you’ll need, and leave the rest at home.
* Be sure to have a list in a safe place that contains all of your credit cards, the numbers and contact information of the issuing company. This way, if you are unlucky enough to lose them, you’ll have the information necessary to contact them as soon as you notice the theft.
* Never sign a blank receipt, and always be sure to cross out blank lines. For example, if you bought something that didn’t require a tip, cross out the tip line so nobody can add to it later.
* Make sure the site is secured (determined by a lock icon on the lower right of the browser) whenever you’re buying online.
* If you move residences, report your new address to your credit card issuer immediately. Some thieves look for moves, and then watch the mailbox of the old house, hoping that they can intercept a credit card statement.
Avoiding credit card fraud can be helped. All you have to do is take additional care and follow some necessary precautions.
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