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Step 1
Keep a log of your purchases on your credit cards. This doesn't have to be what you purchased, just the amount and the store and location. Often credit card numbers are stolen in a store and charged in that store or another in the chain. This will help you to identify those types of activity immediately. If you reveal anything strange, contact the identity theft protection services department at you credit card company to report the activity immediately.
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Step 2
Check your account online. This will help you to identify any areas of illegal activity. First look at the locations of the charges to see if you are getting charges from other states or countries. Then look at the amounts of the charges and verify them against the log you kept. Look for multiple charges at the same store or charges at stores which you were not at. If you reveal anything strange, contact the identity theft protection services department at you credit card company to report the activity immediately.
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Step 3
Avoid online purchases. Online purchases can be done using paypal or a similar service which is much more secure. If you use your credit card online there are too many possibilities for fraudulent charges. This is not to say that you should not buy things online, just be aware of your method of payment.
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Step 4
If you make a lot of charges that could leave you open to getting your credit card numbers stolen, you may want to consider identity theft protection services. You can hire out these services privately, but you can also get them through the card company. Your credit company's identity theft protection services are probably sufficient for most people.















