| Credit cards are powerful. With the swipe of a plastic | | | | The credit card companies use the same distraction to |
| card the entire world is available to you. Buying airline | | | | draw more interest from their customer base. They |
| tickets, a vehicle off eBay, or even paying rent is all | | | | offer attractive rewards as you use your card more. |
| possible. Entire vacations, home improvements, and | | | | They hope you will justify more purchases because of |
| educations have been purchased with credit cards. | | | | the rewards. As you do this they charge you more |
| With all that power comes dumb mistakes and here | | | | interest. There are some people that are helpless |
| they are: | | | | against the opportunity to "get something for nothing". |
| Dumb Mistake #1 - Not signing the back of the card | | | | The truth is, there's no such thing as a free lunch and |
| A myth that has been passed around is that not | | | | getting reward points while carrying a balance doesn't |
| signing the back of the card requires the cashier to | | | | leave you with a net gain. |
| see photo verification. That part isn't the myth. The | | | | Dumb Mistake #3 - Not keeping personal information |
| myth is that this makes you more secure. | | | | private - even from people you know and trust. |
| The truth is not signing the back of the card makes | | | | Did you know that the majority of credit theft is done |
| you a better victim if your card is found or stolen by a | | | | by someone the victim knows personally. That means |
| thief. Why? Because all they have to do is sign the | | | | your family, friends, housekeeper, or visitors to your |
| back of your card. The signature will match every time | | | | home or office are the prime suspects when your |
| so they will probably purchase more items and will be | | | | identity is stolen. The Nigerian scam artist that is trying |
| higher ticket items. | | | | to get your personal information isn't as big a threat as |
| The solution - instead of not signing the back of you | | | | your own family (in most cases). |
| card write "See I.D." or "See Photo Identification". Make | | | | With that in mind, take these steps to prevent any |
| sure to write it with solid thick letters so they can't be | | | | temptations. Shred all offers that fill up your junk mail; |
| wiped off or written over. When a thief sees this it just | | | | better yet sign up for a "do not mail" list. Keep all your |
| might be enough to deter any transactions with your | | | | personal documents and information secure and under |
| stolen card. | | | | lock and key if possible. Cancel all credit cards you |
| Dumb Mistake #2 - Getting reward points in the front | | | | don't use regularly. |
| door and paying interest out the back | | | | If you've ever been the victim of identity theft or credit |
| Every good magician knows the power of distraction. | | | | card theft you know that an ounce of prevention is |
| While one hand is busy creating the trick the other is | | | | worth a pound of cure. Keep these things in mind as |
| hiding the truth. The end result is an audience that will | | | | you use your credit cards and lets hope it helps you |
| pay money for the privilege of getting tricked. | | | | avoid making any mistakes. |