Do you know how easy it is for thieves to get into your credit card accounts and charge things without your permission? Anyone can get your private account information by looking through old receipts you've thrown away or left in a public place, by a shop clerk quickly writing down your card details when you're not looking, or by a shady seller you give your information to over the phone, by mail, or on the internet.
Even though most of these things don't happen very often and there are ways to prevent the abuses they show, credit card fraud and identity theft are growing problems that cost the financial services industry more and more every year. Because of this, it is important to be aware of the possible risks and know a few simple things you can do to lower the chance of becoming a victim of identity theft.
Follow the right steps.
Signing all your cards as soon as they arrive on the signature strip on the back is one of the easiest things you can do. You could also keep your cards separate from your wallet and driver's licence, so if someone found them, they wouldn't necessarily know who you are and where you live. Don't keep your PINs, etc., with your cards. Instead, keep them somewhere safe. If you can, the safest thing to do with pin numbers is to memorise them and then destroy them.
If your card is behind the counter during a transaction, try to see what's going on and get it back as soon as you can. Even though it's still pretty rare, your card has a lot of information that can be copied and used later. If you don't need a receipt, you should throw it away. You should also look over your monthly statements carefully to make sure that you made all the charges. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS, contact the company that gave you the card right away.
Dos and Don'ts
Don't leave your cards out where other people can find them, and don't let anyone borrow your card. Don't sign blank receipts and don't give your account information over the phone, by mail, or on the Internet unless you know and can trust the company.
If you suspect fraud or lose your cards, tell the company that gave them to you right away. By taking these simple steps, you should be able to cut the chances of card fraud against you by a large amount.
