Monday, April 16, 2007

CHARGE / CREDIT CARD FRAUD

CREDIT CARD FRAUD

Credit Card Fraud is at an all time high. National and International reports of credit card fraud are being reported everyday. If you use your credit cards, you are a potential victim. Every time you use your credit card you expose your information to sales clerks, billing staffs, and more. Just in case if you did not know it, your credit card information can become compromised within just one transaction. Even if you do not shop online and or use e-commerce sites. You can simply go out to eat at your favorite restaurant or go to your favorite boutique at the shopping mall and use your credit card to pay for the bill has your credit card information compromised. It is just that easy. Crooks are quite and organized in the area of fraud. Often times, you do not even have to use a credit card to be a victim of credit card fraud. You can simply have your wallet stolen and become a victim of credit card fraud by someone else that opens an account in your name. In today’s world, no one is safe. Any piece of financial or personal information that is obtain from you in any way, can result in a hack or breach on your credit. Most commonly, thieves obtain your information by way of dumpster diving. Yes that’s right, going to thru your waste and or trash and stealing it and taking it home to go thru it. They are searching for any kind of way to get credit in your name. This is a common way of people obtaining your information. That is why is recommended that all your financial data be shredded. By shredding your documents, this will stop a theft from using your information to obtain credit under your name. Please take a look at some tips that you may want to keep in mind regarding your credit card and statements, and protecting yourself from fraud.
· Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.
· Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
· Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
· Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
· Void incorrect receipts.
· Destroy carbons.
· Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
· Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
· Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
· Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.
By taking these sort of precautions, you will hopefully be less vulnerable to credit card fraud. Also, for double precaution methods, you may want to consider signing up with a credit bureau that provides Credit Card Monitoring services. By taking this extra step, you will certainly have a coverage that is worth paying for. There are other companies that provide additional Identity Shield Protection products as well, that will provide to you dedicated fraud specialist to monitor and review your credit. These companies provide much needed peace of mind services that makes combating fraud a little easier. If you still find yourself to be a victim of Charge Card Fraud, and you need legal advice, there are affordable legal services that are available. For more information on affordable legal services lawyers, click here.
Please also consider some of these prevention tips below.
Try to avoid:
· Lending your card(s) to anyone.
· Leaving cards or receipts lying around.
· When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
· Writing your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
· Giving out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable. If you have questions about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.
If you lose your credit or charge cards or if you realize they've been lost or stolen, immediately call the issuer(s). Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. By law, once you report the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges. In any event, your maximum liability under federal law is $50 per card. Feel free to contact the FTC if you wish to file a complaint for credit card fraud. Make sure that you are covered with Identity Shield Legal Protection. With this type of coverage you will be protected and your claim handled by a professional firm, both with credit protection and legal counsel advice throughout your process. With Identity Theft Shield , you will not be alone, but will have access to unlimited phone consultations from Top Law Firms from across the world, to speak too. We hope that this information has been beneficial to you. We really aim to provide information that would help “Fight Fraud”.

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