| With the abundant use of credit cards today, and | | | | regarding recent fraud scams. Even email, which can |
| especially the abundant use compounded by the | | | | easily be harvested for numbers being sent back and |
| secret avenues of the world wide web, can put the | | | | forth in transactions, is a medium through which |
| common consumer in a substantially dangerous | | | | consumers can communicate with each other about |
| position to becoming a victim of fraud. Much like | | | | impending threats or even fraud scams in progress. |
| computer viruses and the necessary adjustments | | | | Though the elimination of fraud completely is |
| made by internet providers, credit card companies and | | | | impossible, its reduction is possible due to recent |
| merchants are vigilantly trying to combat fraud as it | | | | innovations in fraud protection such as security chips, |
| occurs and thinking of new ways to pre-empt it before | | | | picture id's and the awareness of online merchants. |
| it can hit you. The cost of credit card fraud is very | | | | Company databases often un-wittingly supply a |
| high, over 700 million pounds in the UK alone in 2006 so | | | | massive amount of credit card information to hackers, |
| finding ways to anticipate and stop the damage | | | | being conveniently kept it all in one place. Often the |
| caused by fraud, is much like the credit industry itself, | | | | merchant itself might be responsible for payment of |
| very big business. | | | | the fraud if it is found that improper steps were taken |
| Everyone today wants a piece of the fraud protection | | | | to ascertain the purchaser's identity and adequately |
| market. Some credit card companies offer their own | | | | protect the identity of the consumer. The purchases |
| incentives and programs and advertise them through | | | | most at risk for fraud are card not present purchases. |
| clever ads starring Donald Trump, Viking marauders, | | | | Sites like Merchant911dotorg list fraud screening sites |
| and unwitting customers channeling the voices of the | | | | like: FraudSmack, preCharge, MaxMind, Cardinal |
| thieves who made them victims. Internet sites like | | | | Commerce, WhyLabs and Merchant Sense all of them |
| Scambusters dot com and Merchant911 dot org can | | | | offering fraud screening services to the merchant |
| protect consumers and merchants. Often these | | | | community, specifically e-merchants who deal with |
| services can be free, or just providing a forum which | | | | card not present purchases. Consumers have other |
| consumers and merchants can share information | | | | options also, including identity theft software. |