Saturday, August 30, 2008

Learn How To Not Become A Victim Of Credit Card Fraud

By Jeff Glasser


Credit card fraud cases are on the rise and some very alarming statistics are showing up. No matter which part of the country you are living in you could easily become victimized by credit card thieves. Considering that credit card fraud costs billions of dollars to those who issue credit cards, prevention is obviously worth a pound of cure. It is about time that everyone did their part to prevent this from happening to them.

Crafty Ways

Credit card thieves operate in very crafty ways and will use all of their ingenuity as well as creativeness to dupe unsuspecting credit card holders. Credit card identity theft in which credit card accounts are opened in the names of the credit card fraud victims, are the most common instances of credit card fraud.

If you take a few timely steps you can prevent credit card fraud. First of all, you need to record all your account numbers and their dates of expiry as well as phone numbers and addresses of all companies. Keep this information in a safe and secure place. Not carrying your credit cards in your wallet is another simple way of preventing credit card fraud. It is advisable instead to use a business card holder, small pouches or even in compartments that can be zipped up to ensure that your credit card is carried in a secure and safe manner.

Even when transacting business it is wise to keep a close eye on your credit card and to also get the credit card back as soon as it has been processed in order to prevent someone from noting down your credit card information and then using that information to defraud you. When you receive bills, these should be opened promptly and reconciled as soon as possible and if certain charges seem dubious you should immediately take up the matter with the credit card company.

Signing the credit card on the reverse side and notifying the credit card company about changes in address, are additional tips that will help prevent credit card fraud. Obviously, you would be inviting trouble and certain credit card fraud if you make the mistake of lending your credit card to someone. Also, unless you are the one making the call, never give your account number over the phone.

Following these simple tips can help ensure that you don't become a victim of credit card fraud, and in addition, you should also make it a point to avail the services of companies offering credit card protection; especially, as it will help prevent identity theft. Finally, you can also visit some of the better known credit card companies to learn about other useful means by which to prevent credit card fraud.

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