How to avoid credit card fraud!

Credit card fraud is increasing in the age of rampant identity theft. Identity thieves will use a verity of techniques to get your personal information and open fraudulent accounts in your name. You can safeguard your personal information by following some easy and sensible guidelines.

Here are the do’s to keep your credit cards safe:

Get a post office box to receive any correspondences from your credit card companies instead of having them mail the documents to your unsecured mail box.

Shred all unused credit card applications and financial documents with a cross-cut shredder before throwing it.

Keep a note of all the credit card account numbers, expiration date, and contact information of the credit card company and store it in a safe place. In case one of the credit card gets lost, you will have enough information to reach to the credit card company with specific details.

Always check your credit card statements thoroughly. Report any unauthorized transaction(s) to the credit card company otherwise it might lead to a possible identity theft.

If you move, update your information with the credit card issuer. This is for security purposes.

Do not use multiple credit cards for making online purchases. It is better to have one credit card separate for such transactions so that you can keep a track of every transaction done on the internet by that card.

Keep a track of the purchases done by the credit card. This will help not only in knowing how much you are spending on that card in a month but will also help in finding out any disputed item showing on your statement.

Here are a few things that you should not be doing while using a credit card:

Don’t leave your credit card receipts lying around anywhere. It has your confidential information that can be misused by an identity thief.

Don’t leave any blank spaces when you are signing the credit card charge slip

Don’t not keep your credit cards in the open for someone to capture your information via camera or memory.

Don’t carry all the cards in your wallet. Leave those cards at home on which you will not be making any purchase.

Don’t loan your credit card to anyone.

Do not give out your credit card number to anyone on the phone even if the person claims to be from your credit card company. Reputed companies will not ask for personal information on the phone.

Don’t answer emails that ask for your credit card number and don’t click on any suspicious links sent in the email that asks to verify your personal and financial information. Such emails and website might be sent for phishing.