Small Business Credit Card Fraud

An easy and short definition of small business fraudThere are several ways how credit thieves get
states that it is a fraudulent transaction that isaccess to victim's account to get engaged in credit
conducted by stolen small business credit card orfraud and use available cash for fraudulent purposes.
stolen card information. Such fraud usually results inCard thieves can:
illegitimate purchase of goods and services.1. Steal victim's card (including stealing from the mail
A sophisticated definition of small business credit cardbox)
fraud defines it (sometimes referred to as Credit2. Stealing victim's credit card information (looking over
Fraud) as an illegitimate operation using personal orthe shoulder, examining victim's trash, looking at
small business credit cards or card information that ispersonnel records in an organization)
used for paying for the fraudulent transaction. The3. Taking over victim's account (through false e-mail,
ultimate objective of such transaction is buyingunauthorized telephone conversation)
products without actually paying for them or illegallyInternet is a main source of credit fraud. When a
transferring funds to the account.customer makes a purchase through Internet, a sales
If you think that you are a victim of small businessperson does not have possibility to physically inspect
credit card fraud, the first thing you should do is reportthe small business credit card; therefore he/she relies
to your card issuer and even block your card, ifon provision of credit card information by mail, phone
necessary.or online form. This creates a fertile ground for credit
In USA out of $1 trillion that consumers have availablefraud, since delivery companies are not required to
on their cards only $2-3 billion is estimated to be fraudcheck identification of the receiver of the good. The
loss. This makes a tiny fraction of one percent thatonly thing that merchant can do is that he/she may
may seem that alarming. However the consequencesrequire delivery of goods to the address approved by
of fraud may be extremely disturbing for the victims.cardholder. Besides small transactions are not
Although in USA victims are insured towards financialcontrolled if fraudulent transactions are conducted
loses, however the costs are the inconvenience, highercarefully, their detection becomes less likely.
interest rates and fees by which banks cover losses.