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Friday 17 February 2012

Credit Card Fraud Prevention Guide

By Christy Hoyle


Fraudulent individuals all over the world keep on growing in number, which means that credit card fraud is still very much the rage in the world of crime. We have written this article with you in mind, because everybody, after all, wants to make sure their information does not get into the wrong hands.

Here are some useful tips and advice about how to protect yourself from credit card fraud.

Fraud techniques

With technology continuously improving, so have the methods of criminals and identity thieves and the techniques they can use to steal a person's information.

Here are four of the most prevalent forms of fraud:

Copying of credit cards ATM fraud Internet card fraud Stolen PIN numbers

All of the above techniques are employed by identity thieves and all of them can rob you blind if you do not take care. Obviously, it is impossible to totally eliminate the problem of credit card fraud, but there are things you can do to greatly reduce the risks.

Keep cards close

Just like you would in a game of cards, your credit cards should be, though not literally, kept close to your chest. This means not leaving cards unattended nor lending them to anybody, even those whom you trust. If you are paying in a restaurant or shop, make sure you pay attention as to where your card is. A common method used to copy your card is to get the details whilst you pay, so keep an eye on your card at all times.

Check receipts

Whenever you get a receipt or a credit card bill, check that all the items and amounts are correct. Contact the customer service department of your card provider if you notice any unfamiliar items on your bill. As for paperwork, these should be disposed of using the necessary security measures. Shred documents so that people cannot go through your rubbish and discover your card details.

Watch your back

Look back because there might be somebody ostensibly queuing at the cash machine, but actually trying to read your PIN whilst you withdraw cash. The easiest way for someone to use your card illegally is to see your PIN and then steal the card. Also, make sure you never keep a written record of your PIN, especially near your cards.

Use reputable firms

When buying on the Internet, make sure that you only purchase items from large and well-established providers. Small or unknown providers should be avoided as even if they are genuine, their security and encryption may be poor and allow fraudsters to access your details.

Keep contact numbers

Credit card fraud is a situation that needs to be resolved as soon as you could, so make sure you are able to notify the appropriate authorities if you even suspect that you are a victim. Keep all the contact numbers for your card issuer in a safe place so that you can call them up and sort out problems immediately. If you are careful and act quickly, you can limit the damage of fraud or prevent it occurring at all.




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