| Discovering that your credit card has been stolen | | | | keeping copies of your cards at home, there are other |
| instantly sets off a feeling of panic. Thieves can steal | | | | steps to help protect your money. You should avoid |
| these cards and immediately charge thousands of | | | | carrying all of your cards at once, so that in the event |
| dollars on them before you realize it is gone. In the | | | | your entire wallet is stolen you will not be risking |
| case that your card is stolen, there are a few simple | | | | multiple accounts. Avoid keeping other personal |
| steps that should be taken immediately to stop the | | | | information in your wallet, such as social security cards |
| thieves from running up your bill. | | | | or PIN numbers. Lastly, shred any piece of paper with |
| You should keep a copy of your credit card at home, | | | | your credit card information on it; these card numbers |
| in a safe place. This can either be a photocopy of the | | | | can be stolen easily from these and you will not know |
| card or a piece of correspondence from the credit | | | | of the theft until much later when the bill arrives. |
| card company that contains the number. When a card | | | | If you are worried about credit card theft based on |
| is stolen, the first thing to do is contact your provider | | | | your lifestyle, perhaps you travel a lot; there are other |
| and report it to them. You will need to tell them your | | | | ways to protect yourself. One option is to purchase a |
| account number and as much information as you can | | | | prepaid credit card, which will only allow as much to be |
| about the theft, including the date, the last place you | | | | spent as what is already loaded onto the card, |
| used it, and any additional charges made to it. This will | | | | preventing thieves from major spending. Prepaid credit |
| allow the company to deactivate the card to keep it | | | | cards work much the same as a traditional card and |
| from being used. They can also track any recent | | | | are an easy way to protect your money. |
| purchases and get an idea of where the card is being | | | | No one expects to be a victim of theft, but with proper |
| used. If the theft is reported immediately, most | | | | preparation you can avoid any potential problems in |
| companies will remove the fraudulent charges from | | | | the event that your card is lost or stolen. Also, there |
| your statement so you will not be held responsible for | | | | are alternate options like prepaid credit cards to keep |
| them. | | | | your funds safe. Knowing what to do will relieve the |
| With credit card theft on the rise, it is important to | | | | sense of panic in the situation and help you keep your |
| protect yourself from becoming a victim. In addition to | | | | money out of harms way. |