| Identity theft is all too common this day in age. It seems | | | | out of your mailbox or even the trash and fill them out |
| like the problem is growing to new extremes. As a | | | | to obtain their own credit card under your name in no |
| major facet of identity theft, credit card fraud is also | | | | time at all. To reduce your chances of becoming a |
| largely preventable by taking basic precautions and | | | | victim, check your mail as soon as possible every day |
| using good financial common sense. Read on for a | | | | and be sure to shred all unwanted applications before |
| few of the most effective ways to avoid credit card | | | | discarding them. |
| fraud completely. | | | | Only Do Business with Secure Websites |
| Keep Your Digits to Yourself | | | | The web has a reputation for being sort of the Wild |
| Don't let anyone borrow your credit card or have | | | | West when it comes to credit cards. The perception is |
| access to your credit card number. A large amount of | | | | that information is stolen routinely and identity thieves |
| credit card fraud happens simply as a result of not | | | | are abundant. While it's always better to be safe than |
| paying close enough attention to who is doing what | | | | sorry, this notion of online lawlessness is largely a |
| with your card. Keep tabs on who has your card and | | | | misperception. In fact, when doing business with |
| for how long. For example, most of the time at retail | | | | reputable businesses online, your credit card info is |
| stores and even at restaurants you can see what's | | | | probably even safer than it would be in a typical offline |
| going on with your card. If at all possible, watch to | | | | transaction. Just make sure the connection is secure |
| make sure no one is "mishandling" your credit while | | | | (look for the padlock logo in your browser) and that |
| processing it. | | | | you completely trust the company you're paying. |
| Destroy Old Receipts | | | | Review Your Statement |
| Even though it is now a law in many places that | | | | Often considered a last resort when taking steps to |
| transaction receipts must not display any more than | | | | avoid credit card fraud, reviewing your account |
| the last few digits of your credit card number as part | | | | statement line by line is also a surefire way to catch |
| of the print out, that's really no guarantee that your | | | | any misuse of your card before it's too late. Simply by |
| personal and credit card info is not still there. Make | | | | reporting any misuse to your card issuing bank, most |
| sure none of the receipts from the use of your credit | | | | liability is averted right then and there. On the other |
| card are left behind for the next person to see. It's | | | | hand, choosing to just pay the bill without looking at the |
| best to destroy old receipts by shredding them once | | | | charges listed is a great way to be an ongoing victim |
| they're no longer needed. | | | | of credit card fraud. |
| Shred Credit Card Applications | | | | Knowing how to avoid credit card fraud is mostly |
| Think about how many credit card applications you | | | | accomplished by being aware of how fraudsters |
| receive by mail in the course of a month or so. Each | | | | practice their trade, but even more so, by taking easy, |
| and every one of these is practically an invitation for | | | | basic steps to protect your identity. Don't allow |
| fraudsters to take advantage. They can get them right | | | | yourself to be a victim! |