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| | | | | Minimize your credit cards and other items with |
| Fraud is a serious crime and protecting yourself and | | | | personal information that you carry around in your |
| your customers should never be an afterthought in | | | | purse, wallet, or briefcase. Cancel all inactive cards and |
| your business practices. If you conduct business using | | | | accounts you have because, even though you don't |
| payments other than cash, you are putting yourself, | | | | use them, the accounts are still susceptible for fraud |
| your business, and your customers at risk of fraud. | | | | and theft. |
| Criminals first target consumers' credit card information, | | | | |
| social security numbers, and other sensitive data. Once | | | | 1. |
| they have obtained enough information to conduct | | | | Pay attention to your bills and follow up with creditors if |
| transactions, your business, website, or store could be | | | | they don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean that |
| their next stop. | | | | a thief could have changed the address of your |
| | | | | account. |
| According to the FTC, "more than one in ten | | | | |
| Americans – nearly 25 million adults in the United | | | | 1. |
| States – were victims of some type of consumer | | | | Secure Information in your home. Treat your personal |
| fraud during 2003." | | | | information and payment documents like you would a |
| | | | | will, deed, stock certificate, and income tax fillings. Keep |
| The rising popularity of e-commerce and card | | | | them secure in a place like a safe or a desk with a |
| payments has directly increased the amount of fraud | | | | locked drawer. |
| crimes. Fraud poses a serious threat to consumers, | | | | |
| businesses, and the economy as a whole. Even the | | | | 1. |
| most cautious and sophisticated people can become a | | | | Be informed about your workplace security |
| victim to email fraud, check fraud, internet fraud, and | | | | procedures. Your employer has all your personal and |
| consumer fraud. | | | | financial information. It is good to know who has |
| | | | | access to your files and verify that they are kept in a |
| Don't jeopardize your business, financial well-being, and | | | | very secure location. It is also wise to ensure proper |
| life to fraud. Here are ten tips on how to minimize your | | | | disposal procedures with documents as well. |
| chances of fraud from happening to yourself or your | | | | |
| business. | | | | 1. |
| | | | | Don't use third parties. When you are applying for a |
| 1. | | | | card, work directly with the financial institution who is |
| Be cautious with your personal identification information, | | | | supplying it. Third parties only give more strangers |
| such as your full name, social security number, and | | | | access to your information, and more ways for |
| address. If you are prompted to provide it, ask first if it | | | | criminals to expunge your identity. |
| can be kept confidential. If that isn't an option, inquire | | | | |
| who it is being shared with and how it is going to be | | | | 1. |
| used. | | | | Be wary of bad credit offers. No one can magically |
| | | | | erase bad credit history overnight. This information |
| 1. | | | | stays on your report for up to seven years. Anyone |
| Never give your personal, bank account, or credit card | | | | who promises they can erase your history should be |
| information to anyone who solicits you via telephone. | | | | not only be avoided, but reported. |
| Ask instead for them to snail mail you any additional | | | | |
| information they can provide for further research. | | | | The greatest way to protect your business' credit |
| | | | | card processing services from fraud is with a |
| 1. | | | | company who proactively prevents it. Veritrans has |
| Store personal information safely. Keep a list of all | | | | the credit card processing fraud prevention your |
| your credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates, | | | | business needs with superior quality service and no |
| and customer service phone numbers in a secure | | | | hidden fees. Guaranteed. Veritrans offers retail, |
| place. Make sure that it can be accessed relatively | | | | wireless, online, and MOTO processing for all types of |
| quickly so that you can contact companies | | | | major brand cards: Visa, MasterCard, American |
| immediately, in case your personal information is stolen. | | | | Express, Discover, JCB (Japan's Credit Card), |
| | | | | Pin-based debit cards and EBT (food stamps) cards. |
| 1. | | | | Even if you already have an account somewhere else, |
| Destroy all ATM receipts, bank statements, expired | | | | call Veritrans for a free and confidential analysis of |
| cards, insurance forms, and any other documents that | | | | your current contract and fees. We will protect you |
| may contain your personal identification, account | | | | from fraud, and help you understand and walk you |
| numbers, and financial information. This also includes | | | | through our cost-effective card processing service |
| pre-approved solicitation letters. Dumpster divers are | | | | solutions. |
| more clever than they first appear. | | | | |