Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud

This day and age thieves will do almost anything to commit fraud and steal your credit card information. Thieves range from someone who rummages through a person's trash or steals your mail to obtain credit card receipts or other personal information that can get them access to your accounts. Protecting yourself completely is almost impossible but you can take steps to make it difficult and deter most thieves.

By following these simple tips you can protect yourself from credit card fraud:

What you should do:

Sign your credit card as soon as you receive it in the mail.
Don't carry your credit card in your wallet.
Keep records of your credit card account numbers, include expiration date, address, and phone number of each credit card company you have an account with. Keep them in a safe place in case you ever need them.
While making a transaction be sure to keep an eye on your credit card and get it back as soon as possible.
Have incorrect receipts voided.
Destroy carbon copies of your receipts.
Save your receipts and compare them to your monthly credit card statement. Open your credit card bills promptly when you receive them and reconcile your accounts monthly.
If you find any questionable charges on your credit card statement call and report it immediately to your credit card company, follow-up in writing about the questionable charges.
If you are going to change residents, call and inform the credit card company ahead of time.
When getting rid of any documents that has personal information or credit card information on it be sure to destroy it. Shred expired credit cards or canceled credit cards.

What Not to Do:

What ever you do, don't lend your credit card to anyone.
Never leave your credit card or credit card receipts laying around.
Don't sign a blank receipt. And when you do sign a receipt be sure to draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.

Don't write your credit card account number on a postcard where your credit card number can be seen.
Don't give your credit card number out over the phone or Internet to verify your age.
Don't give out your credit card account number over the phone unless you know you are dealing with a reputable company.

If you lose your credit card or realize that your credit card has been stolen, immediately call your credit card company. Most credit card companies have a 24-hour toll free number to call and report lost or stolen cards. By law, once you report the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges.