How to Protect your Credit Cards and Identity

Credit cards can bring convenience to our lives but credit cards also present additional security threats. It is important to take steps to protect your credit cards and identity.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Sign credit cards with "Photo ID Required". By eliminating your signature and requiring a photo ID check, a lost or stolen credit card may not be accepted by another person.

2. Make copies of credit cards. Make a photo copy of all credit cards and keep them in a safe place in your home. Photo copies can be used to call credit card companies in the event that your credit card is lost or stolen.

3. File reports if credit card is lost or stolen. It is important to file a police report, call the Social Security Administration and/or credit reporting agencies to place fraud alerts.

4. Cancel credit cards. In the event that your credit is lost or stolen, call the credit card companies immediately to cancel your cards.

5. Protect credit card account numbers. Mailed payments should not include complete credit card account numbers on the check. Use only the last four digits as a reference.

[kristara]

on 10/27/2009 Great identity theft protection tips 5*