| According to Homeland Security, credit card | | | | fraud occurs online, there are some pretty |
| fraud can cost as much as $500 million per | | | | ingenious ways to commit fraud offline as |
| year. Consumers are using their credit cards | | | | well. Here are some tips to take note of. |
| more, which increases the pool that | | | | |
| fraudsters can target. When card fraud | | | | When you use your card and it is returned to |
| happens, we all pay for it. Credit card | | | | you, make sure you check the card carefully. |
| companies increase fees such as the charge | | | | Consumers have been faced with huge bills |
| back fees and these are passed down to the | | | | that were made using their credit cards that |
| consumer. Consumers must be extra vigilant | | | | were stolen without their knowing. This |
| when using their credit cards and even more | | | | happens when you pass your card to a merchant |
| careful when maintaining their financial | | | | to pay for goods and your card is switched |
| information. | | | | with an identical expired card that belong to |
| | | | another person. |
| How can you prevent paying for card fraud? | | | | |
| | | | Some fraudsters are bold enough to pose as |
| Even though prevention methods have been | | | | staff at restaurants and sidewalk cafes and |
| issued over the years, millions of us only | | | | without you seeing, simply walk off with your |
| practice some of the safety measures. | | | | card when you hand it over to pay for a meal. |
| | | | Do not let your credit card out of your site |
| We have been told not to carry all our credit | | | | at all. Let your attendant bring a portable |
| cards with us, but how many of us still do. | | | | card machine to you or make your way to the |
| We rationalise that if my credit cards are at | | | | till to pay for your items. |
| home and my home is burgled, I would be no | | | | |
| better off. However if my purse is with me | | | | If you complete a credit card application |
| at least I could guard it at all times. | | | | that you did not post, make sure you shred or |
| | | | burn it. Fraudsters are not beyond searching |
| Based on the US Department of Justice report | | | | through your garbage to find items such as |
| which stated there were 2,154,126 burglaries | | | | credit card receipts, old check books or |
| in 2005 compared to 417,122 robberies | | | | anything that can give them personal |
| nationwide for the same year, I can see your | | | | information about you. |
| point. But why not use a safe or safety | | | | |
| deposit box to store your credit cards. | | | | There are many other tips for credit card |
| Alternatively you can carry your credit cards | | | | safety; these are just a few to remind you of |
| in a bag or pouch separate from you purse or | | | | the need for safety. While the credit card |
| wallet. | | | | companies try to implement safety measures |
| | | | like chip and pin, the responsibility lies |
| Fraudsters are becoming more and more | | | | with you the consumer to guard and protect |
| sophisticated, and although most credit card | | | | your credit card. |