Credit Cards And Identity Theft

Foil Identity Thieves By Using These Clever Credit Cards And Identity Theft Tips

• Never carry more identification than you require and never carry your birth certificate or social security number (or social insurance number in Canada) around in your purse or wallet.


• Never allow anyone to borrow or use your credit card. They could copy your card number without you knowing and use it later to make purchases online or by telephone. Or, they could carelessly leave it lying around for someone else to copy.


• Never allow anyone to sign for purchases using your credit card. Not only are they breaking the law by forging your signature, but you are violating your credit card agreement by allowing them to do so, and you could stand to lose all your card privileges.


• Never leave your debit or credit cards lying in plain view of other people or hidden cameras. Never permit a store or restaurant employee to take your credit card anywhere out of your sight.


• You can safely use your credit card to make secure online payments at legitimate websites, but first examine your browser window and look at the beginning of the URL address for the familiar "https" -- the "s" is added when your Internet connection is secure.
  
  Also, most browsers display a tiny "padlock" icon to indicate you have a secure connection on the site's transaction page. The image below shows how a secure connection appears in the popular Firefox browser.
  
  
  
  When it comes to credit cards and identity theft, online transactions can be just as secure as offline transactions when the proper precautions are taken.


• Always keep your credit card number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) a secret. Never give your numbers to anyone, no matter how trustworthy or close to you.


• If you even "suspect" that someone may know your credit card number or PIN, immediately contact your card company or your bank right away, and choose a new number.


• Pick a PIN you can easily memorize so you don't have to carry it with your card or on your person. A combination of at least eight numbers and letters works best for a PIN or password in preventing identity theft.


• Never tie your PIN to information about yourself like a birth date, anniversary date, your mother's maiden name, or the name of your pet. Such information is surprisingly easy obtain. Your PIN should only make sense to you and nobody else.


• Always sign a new credit card when you receive it and cancel credit cards that you no longer use.


• When your credit cards expire or are cancelled, be sure to shred them or use scissors to cut them up in small pieces. Do not simply put them in the trash for a thief to find.


• Shred all credit card applications and other types of applications that arrive in the mail bearing your name and address. Identity thieves routinely search through garbage looking for personal information and personalized application forms they can use to assume your identity.


• Never leave unwanted account receipts at ATMs, gas pumps, or in public trash cans. Always take them home and shred them.


• Keep track of your cards and report a lost credit card or discrepancies in your monthly statements to the credit card company immediately.


• Check your credit card agreement for information on how to report identity theft. Know in advance the procedure to follow and take note of the number to call.

Copyright © 2006-2012 by Donald R Bell - All Rights Reserved Worldwide