Five Steps to Avoid Credit Card Thieves
One of the most common crimes is credit card theft, and most cases are preventable, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In general, you can make credit card theft very tough for criminals by closely guarding anything that might contain your information and researching a seller if you plan to purchase something over the Internet.
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Develop a New Mindset
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Only give out private information on a "need-to-know" basis. Credit card companies do not call you out-of-the-blue to confirm information like your mother's maiden name. Never give your credit card number through email. Internet fraudsters often claim that you have won a prize and need your credit card to process the transaction, or set up fake websites that look like a retailer's actual website.
Travel Precautions
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If you plan to leave the country, only take one credit card and leave the rest at home, suggests Martha White of Bankrate.com. Also, make a copy of the card you take in case you need to call your bank. Leave a copy of your information with a trusted person back home and if you can, make a digital copy and store in on an electronic device, such as a thumb drive and wear it around your neck. Ask your friend or a family to collect your mail so a thief does not steal your account statement while you are gone, and if you have call your bank with your account information, do not talk in a public area.
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Internet Use
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Research every Internet site on which you might use your credit card, even ones you believe to be reputable. Check for complaints about the company with the Better Business Bureau. Look for a padlock at the bottom of the website---this indicates it encrypts data. Also, review the security software used by the website, because the padlock icon does not necessarily mean the website is completely safe. Call the seller's telephone number to ensure he is an actual person or it is a legitimate company. Be wary of P.O. boxes and foreign addresses.
Bank Statements
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Check your credit card statement every month for potentially fraudulent transactions. If you do not receive monthly statements, call the credit card company immediately. A thief may have redirected your credit card statement to another address. Request previous account statements and warn the company of possible theft of your credit card.
Tip
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Shred any documents that contain your private information before throwing them out. Periodically check your credit report for accounts you never opened. You can free annual credit reports from the Annual Credit Report website. If possible, keep statements or photocopies of statements and canceled checks for at least a year. You may need these items in case of a later dispute.
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