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