5 Ways to Avoid Credit Card Fraud

by on August 23, 2011

It seems every day there is a new story about identity theft and credit card fraud somewhere. Sometimes there are hundreds of these stories in a day. With so many people out there desperate to take our credit card numbers, how do we keep them save? Here are five tips that will give you a good start.

Keep your Numbers Private

Your credit card is a personal card that is meant for you. While it may just seem like a piece of plastic, you should not freely lend your card out to people you know, or give out your credit card number for no good reason. Even when you have to pay for something at a restaurant or other location, you should try to keep an eye on what is happening to your card to make sure someone isn’t copying down your numbers to use later.

Shred Receipts

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Receipts are not supposed to show more than the last four digits of your credit card, but many of them do. They also have a lot of your other personal information on them. Once you are done using your receipts, or filing them away for taxes, you should shred them instead of putting them in a regular trash can. Don’t make the information easy to find for someone who may be up to no good.

Shred Application

Credit card applications come in as much as other pieces of junk mail. You may see them so much that you no longer care about them and toss them in the trash without a second thought. That is not a good idea. That application has some of your information on it. You should always shred credit applications to make sure someone else doesn’t fish them out of the trash and try to open a line of credit in your name.

Use Secure Websites

If you do a lot of online shopping, make sure you are using a secure online site. Look for that little padlock logo in the corner of your web browser so you know the information you are entering is secure and only going to those you want to be giving it to.

Watch Your Card Statement

The best thing you can do to keep your credit cards secure is keep a close eye on what is happening on them. If you do online banking, you should check your credit cards regularly to make sure all the charges coming through are ones you put there. If you wait until the statement comes, make sure to look at it as soon as it comes and call if you see anything that is suspicious.

Stephen Sikes is the owner of the credit card comparison site
www.CreditCardWave.com

Visit the site to read articles and reviews on the best ways to utilize credit cards.

You can compare and apply online for top personal and business credit cards.


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Undoing Fraudulent Activities

by on August 23, 2011

When you discover you have been victimized and someone used your credit card to make an unauthorized purchase, time is of the essence. On the subject of credit card fraud, a good thing to remember is that it is just as important to be proactive as it is to be reactive – so do not wait to report the incident.

Check Out Your Liabilities

If your credit card is stolen or used fraudulently, understand that as long as your report the theft as soon as you know it happened, you will likely only be responsible for the maximum of . In the event your credit card number and not the card itself was stolen, you are not liable for anything per federal law.

Understand the Fraud Procedure

When you notice a fraudulent charge on your credit card statement, you must contact your credit card company within 60 days to remain protected from the charges. If the merchant where the purchase was made has a signature for the purchase then the credit card company will be responsible for resolving the charge. If the transaction happened over the internet or in some other forum that did not require a signature, it will be the merchant that is responsible for charges.

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New Account Fraud

There are time when people will find that someone used their personal information to open a new credit card account. In this case, you will have to file an official police report to confirm the fraudulent activity and identity theft. Generally, once a report has been filed and the new account contested, the information will be removed from your credit report without further damage.

Dealing with fraudulent financial activity can be extremely frustrating. You will often feel like you are chasing your tail – going around and around with customer service reps, trying to get some answers. But it is your persistence that can make a difference in your efforts. Do not let fraudulent activities go and ruin your otherwise good credit. If you find you are getting the runaround from one representative, ask for a manager and go through the ranks until the issue is resolved.

Also, be sure to keep impeccable records about your progress. Always note the day and the time and the name of the person you talked to in resolving the problem. Keeping these records will help you keep up with all conversations which can be important if you must continue fighting the charges. Keep all of your notes safely stored, even after the issue appears to be resolved. You never know what may resurface at a later point.

Elizabeth Williams, Editor-in-Chief for CreditCardFlyers.com

CreditCardFlyers.com makes it easy to compare and apply for a variety of credit card offers featuring low balance transfer rates. We are the leading source for searching 0 apr balance transfer offers online.


Article from articlesbase.com

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