| Credit card fraud has increased | | | | from information you submit on the |
| significantly in recent years, according | | | | Internet. |
| to law enforcement officials and | | | | - Fraudsters may locate your discarded |
| consumer protection organizations like | | | | receipts by looking through your trash |
| the Public Interest Research Group and | | | | can. If your name or account number |
| Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. More | | | | appears on the receipt, they can use it |
| consumers own credit cards now than in | | | | to their advantage. |
| the past, and criminals are constantly | | | | - A clerk at a store might make an extra |
| looking for new ways to tap into | | | | copy of your credit card, or take the |
| accounts. All of this means cardholders | | | | numbers from it. |
| need to protect their credit cards now | | | | - Your utility bills, credit card and |
| more than ever before. | | | | bank statements, tax information, and |
| Perhaps the most obvious form of credit | | | | new checks can be stage-managed to land |
| card fraud takes place in the form of | | | | up at the wrong place. |
| theft. Even if you don't lose your card | | | | - You may get a phone call or email |
| or have it stolen, however, your credit | | | | offering a free trip or a cheap travel |
| card account could still be in danger. | | | | package. To receive it, however, you |
| It is not uncommon for criminals to | | | | have to submit your account number. Once |
| steal your credit card identity - | | | | you do, the source can start using your |
| details such as the number on the card | | | | card number to make unauthorized |
| and the expiration date. A stolen | | | | purchases. |
| account number is the first step in a | | | | After collecting your personal |
| series of credit card fraud incidents. | | | | information, fraudsters may get the |
| Unfortunately, cardholders may not be | | | | mailing address on your credit card |
| aware of the theft until the | | | | account changed by calling your |
| unauthorized activity starts showing up | | | | creditors and opening new lines of |
| on the bills. | | | | credit. In some cases, they might do |
| Identity Theft | | | | more than just rack up purchases on your |
| Identity theft occurs when your personal | | | | card. They might open bank accounts in |
| information is gathered without your | | | | your name, apply for loans in your name, |
| authorization and used for criminal | | | | or set up new phone accounts. The list |
| purposes. It occurs when someone steals | | | | of possibilities is nearly endless. |
| information that identifies who you are, | | | | New Credit Card Crimes |
| such as your name, address, date of | | | | One of the newest methods that identity |
| birth, or social security number. | | | | thieves are using is referred to as |
| Sometimes you need to submit this | | | | skimming. In this technique, a small |
| information when applying for credit, | | | | hand-held electronic device called a |
| opening a new bank account or making a | | | | skimmer is used to gather the |
| purchase. When someone taps into these | | | | information embedded in the magnetic |
| accounts or transactions without | | | | strip of the card. With a simple swipe |
| authorized permission, your information | | | | of your card in the hand-held skimmer, |
| could be in danger. According to a | | | | all your personal identification |
| Federal Trade Commission survey issued | | | | information is collected in just a |
| in October 2007, an estimated 13.5 | | | | second. It is then used to create a |
| percent of U.S. adults (30.2 million | | | | counterfeit card or make purchases |
| consumers) were victims of one or more | | | | online. |
| identity fraud incidents in 2005. | | | | Crime perpetrators are continually |
| Credit card thieves can come in two | | | | trying out different technologies to |
| forms. The first of these are complete | | | | carry out identity theft. Fortunately, |
| strangers, and the other kind falls into | | | | many organizations are fighting the |
| the category of people you know. This | | | | battle against credit card crime by |
| second group can include anyone from | | | | developing new encryption techniques. |
| friends and family members to neighbors, | | | | Business are doing all they can to help |
| co-workers, or anyone that you have an | | | | individual consumer keep their private |
| established relationship with. More than | | | | information a closely guarded secret. |
| half of the identity theft cases that | | | | Despite various improvements and |
| occur are committed by criminals that | | | | efforts, almost anyone can be a victim |
| have established relationships with | | | | of identity theft. And it can be |
| their victims. | | | | nerve-wracking to find unauthorized |
| This doesn't mean that you should be | | | | charges on your personal credit card |
| wary of all of your friends and in-laws. | | | | bills. Most credit card companies will |
| You should, however, be aware of certain | | | | cover the amounts charged to your card |
| warning signs. Here are a few of the | | | | in fraudulent cases. Still, it is in |
| common ways that identity theft happens: | | | | your best interest to do all you can to |
| - Someone may steal your wallet or | | | | protect your credit card, as well as |
| purse. When they get a hold of it, they | | | | your personal identification |
| have instant access to your credit cards | | | | information. Prevention is always better |
| and bank information. | | | | than the cure! |
| - Your personal information can be taken | | | | |