How to Detect Online Credit Card Fraud
Online credit card fraud can affect virtually anyone who has a Visa, MasterCard or other credit card account. A thief can make purchases online in your name once he gets your credit card number and other identifying information. He can have the goods delivered to another address. He may be able to use your card for quite a while before you even realize your information has been compromised. Fortunately, there are ways you can detect online credit card fraud and put a stop to it.
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Instructions
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Set up online access to your credit card account if you do not already have it. Virtually all banks will let you review your recent activity online once you sign up. This keeps you from having to wait until a monthly statement arrives in the mail.
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Review all of your transactions line by line at least once a week. Cross-reference each item with your legitimate purchases. Make a list of any items that you do not immediately recognize. There should be a business name and phone number or other contact information listed by the item.
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Call the business and ask for details of the transaction in question. Find out which website was used to make it and where any merchandise was shipped. Let the business know you did not make the purchase if you still do not recognize it after being given the details.
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Call your credit card company and alert it to the likelihood that you are a victim of online credit card fraud. Contest the charge in question, which will trigger an investigation by the bank. It will be removed from your bill if the bank confirms that it is indeed fraudulent. You may also be given a new account number, and your old account may be closed to prevent the thief from making more online purchases with your information.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a research website like 800notes.com to look up the telephone number listed on your credit card statement by a potentially fraudulent item. These sites maintain databases of numbers that are associated with online credit card fraud and other scams and will help you determine whether you are indeed a victim.
Greg Sandoval of CNet News warns that dealing with seemingly legitimate companies might expose you to online credit card fraud. Such companies will pop up an offer for a discount while you are checking out, but they do not clearly disclose that you are signing up for a paid membership by accepting the offer. Soon unrecognized charges will start showing up every month on your statement until you notice and cancel the service.
