| Credit cards are a huge part of the American way of | | | | credit card. |
| life today. With the increasingly electronic world of | | | | There are some unscrupulous scams in the form of |
| finances and bill paying today, credit cards are almost | | | | guaranteed credit and loans via emails on the internet. |
| a necessity for anyone who wants to keep up with | | | | Many emails of this nature are simply looking for you |
| the times and enjoy the convenience and ease of | | | | to give up your personal information online to them |
| this method of payment. | | | | so they can use it for identity theft. |
| Credit cards have made themselves a necessary | | | | To protect against internet style credit scams, keep |
| "evil" in today's world. Credit cards offer such ease of | | | | your computer safe with updated antivirus software, |
| use and a convenience unmatched by other forms of | | | | antispy software, a firewall and an antiphishing |
| payment, but that also comes with abuse by both | | | | toolbar. Phishing, where a criminal sends an email that |
| the cardholders by misusing them, and by thieves | | | | is supposed to be from a reputable bank is becoming |
| who are up to no good that will profit from getting | | | | more popular, and you want to make sure you do |
| your information off of a card. As a result, there are | | | | not respond to these emails or give any personal |
| increasingly more reports of credit card scams today. | | | | information to them. The threat of something known |
| These scams can range from identity theft to people | | | | as identity theft, which is closely tied to credit card |
| hacking into our computers to obtain credit and | | | | fraud, is so abundant today that many singular |
| financial information. In one recent credit card scam, a | | | | companies are offering a guarantee to protect you |
| person calls the home of the credit card owner. | | | | from it for a monthly or yearly fee. |
| Identity thefts may pose as a representative from | | | | The best way to protect yourself without resorting |
| security department or fraud prevention department | | | | to a monthly bill is to know what to beware of. If |
| of some company, in order that they may get | | | | you lose your wallet or checkbook, or if it is stolen, |
| personal information from you. | | | | cancel all credit cards and accounts and report it |
| They claim they have flagged your account for | | | | immediately. Shred all personal documents and |
| unauthorized purchases and they want to give you a | | | | information before disposing of it to prevent |
| credit on your account. The caller then says he needs | | | | dumpster diving scams. |
| your information, verifies your address and name on | | | | People who steal identities are savvy, and you want |
| the account and asks for the 3 numbers on the back | | | | to make sure you don't make their job easier by |
| of the card. These 3 numbers are the security code | | | | leaving around payment stubs, unused credit card |
| that proves that you are in possession of the card. | | | | offers and other items with personal information. A |
| Within a few days, the caller is fraudulently charging | | | | paper shredder may even be a good idea. Another |
| on your account using the security code numbers | | | | scam is a con artist posing as a person with a valid |
| that you have given them. So, consumer beware. | | | | reason to obtain personal information. Unfortunately, |
| Never give out personal or credit card numbers and | | | | identity theft can also be done as the result of an |
| information to anyone that calls you and ask for this | | | | inside job by family members, friends or even a |
| information. This is not standard procedure for most | | | | babysitter with access to your personal information. |
| places of business, unless you arranged this with a | | | | Means of prevention of identity theft are cancel all |
| company for payment. | | | | inactive accounts, sign your credit cards and don't |
| The credit card companies won't call and ask you for | | | | give out personal information when using your card. |
| this information because they already know it and | | | | You can request electronic versions of bills and |
| have it on file. If you encounter this situation, hang | | | | statements and direct deposits of your payroll |
| up and call the police and the credit card company. | | | | checks. I know it's hard to keep up with sometimes |
| Con artists may use a variation of this type of scam | | | | (this is why you should probably limit your number of |
| as they may have part of the information from your | | | | credit cards), but it is prudent to check your credit |
| account and then they're calling you to"verify" the | | | | card statements every month in order to catch any |
| remainder of it so they can fraudulently use your | | | | possibly fraudulent charges or suspicious activity. |
