Credi View

Despite the fact that there are a host of e-payment options out there, it still is a plain fact that the credit card is the internet's chief currency. Research has shown that although credit card companies reimburse 90 percent of consumers whose cards have been used fraudulently, more than 75% of internet merchants who are credit card fraud victims have to bear the cost themselves. Keeping this in mind, it has to be said that in spite of the rapid growth of e-commerce, online payment still remains an area of immaturity and major concern for the internet industry, especially since there is no surefire way eliminating credit card fraud. Though a majority of the buyers rightly stay away[..]

Many people in the UK have more than one credit card, and in some cases people decide to use one of their credit cards for regular use and another for emergencies only. However, it is important to remember that having a credit card account that lies mainly dormant can actually be something of a risk, and could result in you being charged unnecessary fees by the credit card providers or even becoming a victim of credit card fraud. Whilst some people think that having a credit card for emergencies only is a good idea, credit card companies tend to take a dim view of this. Why? Because they have to still deal with the administration of the account even though the customer is not really[..]

Disposable diapers, disposable cameras- and now... disposable credit card numbers? They're actually referred to within the industry as virtual credit card numbers, and are currently being offered through most major credit card issuers. Virtual credit card numbers are single-use numbers that expire within a month or two of issue, and are used for shopping online in place of the number that's actually on your credit card. What's the point? The number is only good at the one web site where you make your purchase, and only for a limit period of time- so if hackers have obtained your credit card number during an online transaction, the next time they go to use it, it will not work. When a[..]

Supply and Demand As consumers race through the checkout lines of their local coffee shops, discount centers or home improvement superstores, one buying habit stands out. The way in which people pay for goods and services has been overtaken by the 'plastic revolution'. Consumers are converting from 'cash customers' to 'card customers' in record numbers as our consumer driven economy is flooded with private label credit cards and gift cards available in nearly any denomination. Accepting credit cards was once a luxury few businesses could afford. But in today's fast-paced marketplace businesses can no longer afford not to accept credit cards or ignore the growing population of[..]

When it comes to checking, free sounds great. Hey, we all want to spend less. But you should understand how it works before you sign up. Banks offer free checking as a way for you to save money. You won't have to pay the service charges every month. In order to sign up, you usually have to make a small deposit to open the account. Most free accounts have no balance minimum requirements. Some will even offer you free checks with your free checking account. The best free checking accounts have the following features: - No minimum dollar amount on transactions - Unlimited checkwriting - No low balance fees - Free ATM card - No charge for direct deposits - Free online access to your account[..]

Using your debit card is often easier than your credit card when paying in line at the local grocery store or shopping center. Plus, everyone knows that credit cards are evil, right? It turns out that if you're disciplined enough to use credit cards (meaning, pay them off in full right away), then you can use them to protect yourself from potential identity theft. They offer distinct advantages you might not be aware of. The use of credit cards creates a two-layer protection system for you, while debit cards may have none or possible only a single layer. In the event that your card number is stolen, most banks will reimburse you after the thief cleans out your bank account. However, the[..]

A recent Unisys study found that, in the midst of the global financial crisis, American's primary fear is credit and debit card fraud. 68% of those surveyed are extremely or very concerned about the security of their credit or debit card data, and 66% are extremely or very concerned about identity theft. Compare that to 58% who are extremely or very concerned about terrorism and war, and 41% who fear the possibility of a serious health epidemic. If we actually had a pandemic, I'm sure the public would favor health concerns over money. But so be it. Credit card fraud comes in two different flavors: account takeover and new account fraud. Account takeover occurs when an identity thief[..]

ts and figures from Symantec Security Response and the Internet Crime Complaint Center are both fascinating and alarming. If you have thought about buying or selling on the Internet, especially with Internet Auction Sites, make sure that you are aware of the best practices and the potential pitfalls before you do. An identity is a terrible thing to waste. How much for your identity? According to a Blog from Symantec Security Response, the following is the cost for your identity on the black market $14-18 for your complete identity $1-6 for a US Credit Card $2-12 for a UK Credit Card $10 for a World of Warcraft Account Internet Crime Complaint Center The Internet Crime Complaint Center[..]

Everyone knows that you can find the best deals on computers and electronics online. Wouldn't it be nice to find those same massive discounts on things like designer clothes, jewelry and watches or women's shoes? The fact is that you can. Over the past five years or so, the internet marketplace has undergone its own Big Bang, and the result is a whole universe of shopping choices for all the things that you want most. That only leaves one question - where are all the bargains? When you're looking for the deepest discounts on apparel and accessories, you need to step beyond the web sites of your favorite High Street stores. While some of the major chains like Tesco's sometimes offer[..]

Basics of security and protecting yourself online Internet security, identity theft and fraud have become major issues recently as more people globally obtain access to the Internet. With the decrease in barriers to entry, i.e. lower webhosting costs, widespread highspeed and wireless Internet access, and website contruction software that truly enables anyone to create a website, the online players and number of new websites are increasing exponentially. With this increase comes a flood of new websites from countries around the world with various languages and business and regulatory environments. The question for the Internet user becomes, which of these websites can be trusted when[..]

PCI scanning surely sounds technical and this term might be alien to most people but it might grab their attention when I tell them how extraordinary this works to protect merchants, online shoppers and credit card companies. Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) established a set of universal security standards in the aim of helping online merchants who transmit and process credit card payments to avoid credit card fraud and identity theft. PCI Security Standards Council was founded by 5 major credit card companies: Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover and JCB; and back then they have their own set of data security standards. These set of standards make[..]

With the evolution of computerization and rapid growth of technology, we have not only seen new types of crimes, but the nature of these crimes has changed as a result of increasing technological capacities. Certainly there has been some empirical study of these computer crimes, most of which has been performed by private security companies largely along the lines of a risk assessment for particular industries. While these inquiries have provided new insights, they have normally been unpublished and narrowly focused. Internet Crimes The Internet has opened a number of opportunities for hackers and various new problems for law enforcement agencies. What is striking is the size of the[..]

The shopping seasons means great bonanzas for retailers online and offline. With the conveniences of the internet and great savings promised more and more shoppers buy online. Buyers can buy homes, cars, durables, electronics, books, toys and much more. The internet offers a wide range of choices as well as instant comparison of products using deal comparison websites. According to experts all shoppers must be aware of: 1. Internet safety; it is important that your browser should comply with security standards that are recommended; the browser must be SSL or SET secure. This means that all information such as purchases made online will be encrypted or scrambled. 2. Always shop at[..]

Ebay and Paypal are a great way to buy and sell goods. You can buy what you want easily. You can pay for what you want with ease. But there are people who sign up for ebay or paypal; for the sole reason of taking people for everything they have. Ebay and paypal do what they can to stop fraud. But you can't catch everyone, when millions of people use ebay and paypal. There are people out there, who will put a deal that is too good to be true for a few thousand dollars. People always look for a good deal, that's what ebay is all about, finding bargains. Some unsuspecting person, buys the item for a big price and never gets the item. Scammers try and pull this con off everyday. The sad[..]

8 Tips for Merchants on Black Friday With the upcoming holiday sales season soon upon us it is beneficial to all e-commerce shoppers and merchants to understand that for every 99% of the honest people, there are disreputable customers that we must all pay for. I am speaking first about credit card fraud, and the need for the customer and the merchants to be able to accept purchases knowing that steps have been taken to help lessen and prevent fraud and other criminal activity. When a merchant has to deal with charge backs from credit card companies, it creates an expense that is ultimately passed up on to consumers. So this Black Friday take the time to double check your sales[..]

The increase in credit card fraud resulted in newer and better methods cardholders may use to protect themselves. Two of these methods are fraud alerts and credit freeze. Fraud Alert This method is used often to protect credit reports. With a fraud alert, a creditor will notify any cardholder whenever new accounts are opened under their names. This enables cardholders to give authorization to the new account, lessen identity theft and determine if they are being victimized for a credit card scam. Fraud alters can be applied to your credit report by simply calling the credit bureau and request for your credit report to be put on fraud alert. This will give you 90 days of protection and[..]

Credit cards have become an increasingly integral part of our financial system over the last century. Types of credit cards and consumer credit choices have continued to flourish across the world and, while many credit card companies have come under fire for misleading consumers and encouraging consumers to get into debt, new credit card innovations mean constant changes in the financial market. For example, if you're one of the millions of people who hate accumulating loose change in your pockets or your wallet every day, a new payment system devised by Visa could change your life. Under the new 'wave and pay' system, customers would be required to pass a credit card in front of an[..]

Having more and more e-shops popping up everyday, online credit card usage is becoming more popular than ever. The option to receive online credit card payments has brought an entirely new dimension to shopping, for both merchants and consumers. Now, you can both shop from the comfort of your home and get discounted products purchased on the internet. This is makes shopping far more pleasurable. Shopping on the internet, you have no need to worry about the weather, traffic jams or other things needed to shop outside your home. Instead you can go to an e-shop, select product/s, and make use of the merchant's online credit card acceptance and approval facility, to make the payment for your[..]

No matter what industry you are in, no matter what your assets include, inventory, money, information and other resources critical to you and your business are vulnerable to predators, outside of your company, who will go to great lengths to steal them. All businesses suffer from fraud and theft: · The retailer is susceptible to shoplifters, check and credit card fraud, counterfeiters, quick-change artists, vendor theft, robbers and burglars. · The contractor may have building materials stolen from the job site, confidential bid information that gets compromised, or has his business checks stolen. · The hotdog vendor could lose his credit rating to an identity[..]

Credit card fraud is a serious problem that results in significant loss to credit card companies and businesses that accept credit cards. Credit and debit card processing companies use advanced technology that ensures secure processing of transactions. They have processes in place to detect fraudulent activities. Businesses also need to follow strict guidelines in handling credit payments. Thieves often get away with fraud because of the casualness of staff at checkout counters. Some steps businesses can take to protect themselves and customers from credit card fraud are: Verifying the genuineness of an unusual credit card activity Credit or debit card processing companies keep track of[..]

One of the biggest risks online merchants face is credit card fraud. Every year, Internet fraud costs merchants more than two billion dollars and as fraud continues to skyrocket, that number steadily increases as well. Here are ten preventative measures that online merchants who accept global payments can take to help minimize credit card fraud on their website. 1. Check the IP Address - An IP address can show the exact geographic location of the computer from which a purchase is made. Check the IP address against the billing address provided by an order. An odd or suspicious distance between the two may indicate fraud. 2. Be Wary of High Risk Countries - In the world of e-commerce,[..]

The British are known for their Fish & Chips, but Chip & Pin has the major anti-fraud development involving credit and debit cards there in the last 5 years. "Chip and Pin" refers to the introduction of a microchip which is included on the credit card in one of the corners. This chip includes identification information which is read by a card reader and when the card is confirmed, the owner must also input a PIN number in the same way as when they use the ATM. The chip identifies the card, and marks it as a real credit or debit card and which is not in fact a fake. The PIN number provides an additional layer of security because it is a number which is only known to the owner of the card,[..]

There are 437,000,000 debit cards in circulation, and their use is on the rise. Criminal hackers are paying attention. Credit cards offer some measure of protection, but when a debit card is compromised, the stolen money is taken directly from the victim's bank account. Federal laws limit cardholder liability to $50.00 in the case of credit card fraud, as long as the cardholder disputes the charge within 60 days. Debit card fraud victims must notify the bank within two days in order to maintain this $50.00 limit. After that, the maximum liability jumps to $500.00. And if a victim doesn't discover or report the fraud until after 60 days have passed, the liability could be the entire card[..]

According to a recent APACS study, overseas losses from credit or debit card fraud totaled 208 million sterling - over US 400 miilion dollars - in 2007, in the UK alone. If you travel frequently, you will already understand the importance of protecting yourself from credit card fraud and theft. Newer technologies, such as chip-and-pin, are helping lower the risk of fraud in some areas around the world. In areas with lower security measures, gangs and thieves infiltrate high traffic spending areas and attach bugging devices. These bugging devices scan the magnetic strip on credit or debit cards. The stolen credit card information can then be used by the thieves to make purchases.[..]

The chip and pin machine was first tried in Northhampton, England in May of 2003. Since the launch was so successful the machines then went nationwide in the United Kingdom in 2004. The very popular "Safety in Numbers" slogan was used to gain the trust of the public. The transformation came as a labor intensive change to most banks and credit card companies as they scrambled to exchange older cards with the new updated cards. Many of the banks stated that they would replace cards once they were expired, however with the amount of cards not set to expire for years the pressure was placed on these organizations and cards were replaced at the consumer's wish. Previously, when using a credit[..]

You heard right. Identity Theft is THE fastest growing crime wave in America. Why? Because its easy and doesnt require someone to break into your home to make off with the goods. They can get them right out of your trash! According to the U.S. Postal Service, one reason is the carelessness of how many of us handle sensitive documents. One of the best investments you can make for your home or office is a paper shredder. There are people who make a living out of looking for a copy of someones un-shredded bank statement, credit card bill, tax return or any number of documents with sensitive account numbers! This article is an attempt to educate you of those dangers and give you some genuine[..]

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It occurs when someone takes a piece of your personal information and uses it without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information to open a credit card account in your name, or uses an existing credit card of yours. Did you know that someone's identity is stolen every 20 seconds? In a recent survey by the FTC, 12.7% of American adults, or 27 million people, reported that they had become victims of some type of identity theft in the last five years. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years --[..]

Many people will have heard about identity theft in the media lately. Identity theft is a growing problem in the UK, having originated in the US. It involves stealing the personal information of an unsuspecting person and using this information to get access to their bank account or other funds such as their credit card. These days, so much of our financial system is computerised that it is very possible to get away with thousands of pounds of someone else's money, especially if it is on a credit card, before anyone will notice what has happened. Most people will have a huge amount of funds available to them on their credit cards alone. In fact the average customer will often have as[..]

Online shopping is an easy and convenient way of purchasing items. Because there are so many online retailers, it is important to be aware of essential online shopping practices that should be implemented before making an online purchase. The following is a list of helpful tips on the Do's and Don'ts of Online Shopping to help make your shopping experience much safer and easier: DO - Make sure that you are shopping at a legitimate and established online site. Look for business contact numbers and email addresses. Check to see if the site is listed as a verified seller of goods and services. Make sure their payment transactions involve shielding your credit card details from third[..]

The number of people that have been victimized by identity theft and credit card fraud is on the rise. Each year, the losses from these cases amount to hundred of thousands, if not millions of dollars. Because of the alarming costs and the steady increase in number of cases; firms that offer protection against the crime are also multiplying. These firms offer protection and assistance in the unfortunate event that a client does get entangled in an Identity theft and credit fraud dispute. But the fact is, most people don't need to resort to availing the services of such firms, as long as time is available and patience is practiced. Protecting yourself from identity theft can be as simple[..]

The top five online scams on the Internet hit nearly ten million people last year according to an FBI report in December 2004. That figure doubled from 2003 to 2004 and people are continuing to fall for these email and identity theft scams. These con artists and hackers are just waiting to commit online fraud and steal your identity. Look carefully at these top five online scams and be aware of what is going on so you won't become a victim. Scam # 1 Online Auction Scam You buy something on an online auction, send them the money and get nothing in return. Or the product you get is a fake or a cheap knockoff instead of the genuine brand name item. This is a risk you take when buying from[..]

As a professional organizer I frequently work with people who have been the victims of Internet fraud and I bet you probably know someone or have heard of someone who has also been a victim. Become proactive and protect your identify so you won’t become a statistic of Internet fraud. We live in a wonderful world where technology is always at our finger tips but we need to use it wisely and make sure our personal identity is protected. In getting rid of clutter on our computers we also need to be conscious of online fraud and ID theft. One way to protect yourself from online fraud and ID theft is to use free state-of-the-art Rapport security software from Trusteer. works with leading[..]

Have you opened a medical statement recently and had too many charges on it? Were you charged for examinations that you did not need? Or were the charges from a doctors office you did not use? You may have been a victim of a white collar crime! It can happen to anyone!  White Collar Crime is a term that was defined by Edwin Southerland, Sociologist of criminology. The term is identifying those illegal non-violent activities that involve traditional notions of deceit, deception, concealment, manipulation, breach of trust or illegal circumvention. These crimes have been known to be committed by business professional and government agents. Today it is known that white collar crime can be[..]