| There are a variety of ways that thieves can get | | | | of your receipts so that you can compare amounts |
| your information and use your cards to make | | | | to your actual billing statements, and open the bills |
| purchases. Here are a few of the more common | | | | when they come in and verify that they are correct |
| ways: | | | | each month. Reconcile the account in the same way |
| You pay for dinner at the restaurant with your credit | | | | you would a checking account to make sure |
| card. Your waitress takes the card to the register, | | | | everything is correct. |
| processes the transaction and returns it. What you | | | | When you are moving, notify your credit card |
| didn't see was the copy of your card details that she | | | | companies immediately with the new address so |
| made, and later used it to make purchases online and | | | | your statements are not finding their way into |
| by phone! | | | | someone else's hands at the old address. |
| You can't believe your luck when you get a mailing | | | | Don't ever write your account number on the outside |
| that says you've won a free trip and all you need to | | | | of an envelope, or on a postcard. Anyone could |
| do is join a travel club to get the free trip. After | | | | notice it and write the information down. |
| providing your credit card details to join the club, you | | | | When shopping online, make sure the websites that |
| never get the free trip and you start seeing charges | | | | you are shopping from are secure. They should have |
| on your statement that you didn't make! | | | | an "SSL" certificate displayed, or at least have a |
| A thief finds copies or receipts of items containing | | | | domain starting with "https", where the "s" indicates |
| your credit card details in the trash and then uses the | | | | it is a secure page and it's okay to enter your card |
| information to make purchases. | | | | information. |
| Fraud like these examples cost cardholders and credit | | | | If you must provide your credit card information by |
| lenders several hundred million dollars every year. | | | | phone, be sure the company you are giving the |
| While you cannot prevent all fraud from occurring, | | | | information to is reputable. |
| there are reasonable things that you can do to help | | | | Open your statements each month even if you |
| prevent and protect against credit fraud. | | | | know you did not make a purchase. Make sure that |
| When using your credit card to pay for dinner at a | | | | there are no purchases on the account that you |
| restaurant, draw a line through all the lines above | | | | didn't make. If a purchase shows up on your billing |
| your signature that do not contain money amounts. | | | | statement that you are unsure of, call the company |
| So if you have left a cash tip on the table for th | | | | and find out who it is, and what they sell and see if |
| server, draw a line through the tip line on the receipt, | | | | you did make the charge and simply forgot. If you |
| or even write "left on table" in the space to make | | | | still don't know who the company is, or know you did |
| sure that the server doesn't add a tip in after you | | | | not make a purchase- get on the phone and call the |
| leave! Try to keep an eye on the server when he or | | | | card company as it is most likely a fraud case. |
| she takes the card to the register, processes it and | | | | If you still find yourself a victim of credit fraud, you |
| returns to your table. | | | | need to immediately call the credit lender. Once |
| When you get a new credit card, sign the back as | | | | reported, the law protects you against any liability for |
| soon as you receive it. Carry credit cards in a | | | | unauthorized credit charges, and you will only be liable |
| different place from the rest of your cash, and even | | | | for up to $50, which is the maximum liability according |
| someplace other than your wallet if possible. Save all | | | | to federal law. |