Credit Information

Useful Tips On Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud


Credit and charge card fraud costs cardholders and issuers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. While theft is the most obvious form of fraud, it can occur in other ways. For example, someone may use your card number without your knowledge.

It's not always possible to prevent credit or charge card fraud from happening. But there are a few steps you can take to make it more difficult for a crook to capture your card or card numbers and minimize the possibility.

Do:

Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.

Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.

Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place. Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.

Void incorrect receipts.

Destroy carbons.

Save receipts to compare with billing statements.

Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.

Report any questionable charges promptly to the card issuer.

Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

Don't:

Lend your card(s) to anyone.

Leave cards or receipts lying around.

Sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.

Write your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.

Give out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable.

Reporting Losses and Fraud If you lose your credit or charge cards or if you realize they've been lost or stolen, immediately call the issuer(s).

Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.


MORE RESOURCES:

1 in 4 college students graduate with $5000 in credit card debt
Bizjournals.com, NC - 8 hours ago
About one out of every four college students leave school with upwards of $5000 of credit card debt, according to a survey released Wednesday. ...


NY hospital worker accused of patient credit card theft
Newsday, NY - 4 hours ago
PORT JEFFERSON, NY - A Long Island nursing assistant has been accused of using a hospital patient's stolen credit card. Suffolk County police received a ...


Washington Post

Credit crisis hangs over markets
Globe and Mail, Canada - 5 hours ago
Investors looking for the all-clear signal are keeping an eye on the US credit crisis and unfortunately things are not getting better at all. ...
Asian Stocks Decline to Two-Year Low on Credit-Loss Concern Bloomberg
Europe Squashed By Credit Worries Forbes
Wall St opens flat on credit woes Business Spectator
The Australian - BloggingStocks
all 2,298 news articles


CreditCards.com: Weekly Credit Card Rate Report
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Annual percentage rates for new credit card offers were mostly steady this week, according to the ...
Avoiding College's Plastic Hangover Wall Street Journal
all 8 news articles


Los Gatos police arrest four in credit card fraud case
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 6 hours ago
One adult and three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of burglary and fraudulent use of a credit card, police said. Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police ...


Versatile's Kiosks Generate More Than $2 Billion of Credit ...
FOXBusiness - 5 hours ago
Using Versatile's Kiosk a typical retailer can generate over $1 million of credit facilities per annum at each location with an average credit limit of ...


First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit a Boost for Homebuyers
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug 21, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A one-time tax credit for first-time homebuyers is part of a new federal housing stimulus law ...


Mythic VP Brushes Off ‘Warhammer’ Credit Complaints, Wants To Talk ...
MTV.com - 7 hours ago
Brushing off complaints from an anonymous developer who complained about a lack of credit for working on “Warhammer Online,” the game’s lead designer wants ...


Credit Solutions Makes Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Private ...
MarketWatch - 13 hours ago
RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Credit Solutions has been named to Inc. Magazine's 2008 list of the 5000 fastest-growing privately held, ...


Boston Globe

US STOCKS-Credit fears, soaring oil push market lower
Reuters - 10 hours ago
By Steven C. Johnson NEW YORK, Aug 21 (Reuters) - US stocks fell on Thursday on fears of more credit losses on Wall Street while soaring oil prices ...
US STOCKS-Wall St flat; HP gains offset by oil, credit woes Reuters UK
US STOCKS-Wall St opens lower on credit woes, oil Reuters
Banks may keep credit tight even in GSE bailout Reuters
Reuters - Reuters
all 1,011 news articles

Credit - Google News

home | site map
© 2006