Mar18
Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft
Credit card fraud and identity theft are serious crimes that have become quite prevalent in the United States. It’s a sad, unfortunate shame, and while little can be done to stop it, aside from prosecution once the damage is done and the perpetrator found, there is plenty one can do to protect themselves.
Identity Theft
Few other countries have as big a problem with this, as they do not use the system of social security numbers that we use in this country. This number, which we are warned to keep private, is readily available to anyone looking for it, simply because we are asked to use this as a standard form of secondary I.D. on just about every form and application we fill out, among other things. A person who is up to no good, can steal your identity, take over your life and do with it as they please, leaving you to pick up the pieces later on.
Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud in itself does not constitute identity theft. Still, the idea that some dishonest thieving individual has your card or number and is racking up charge after charge is still unsettling and can disrupt your life as much as identity theft can. It can be very difficult to try and get those charges off your bill and your back and to get everything back under your own control so that no one is using your account for their ill-gotten gains. Luckily, there are laws that protect honest citizens from this kind of thing. Still, once again, the damage is already done by the time prosecution occurs.
Beating Thieves at Their Game
Follow all the steps recommended for protecting yourself from identity theft. Shred those personal documents, don’t give out personal info over the phone or to unknown persons, keep your social security card protected and in a place where no one else can access it, etc. You can find many tips and tricks to protect yourself from identity theft by doing an internet search. The best resources will be from government entities, such as the FTC.
To safeguard yourself from credit card thieves, do the following:
- Check your billing statements closely every month and report any fishy activity immediately.
- Be responsible with your credit card. Don’t loan it out, and don’t leave it where someone could gain access to it without your knowing.
- Should your card come up missing for any reason, report it immediately.
- If you don’t intend to use a credit card, cancel the account and shred that card.
- Sign yourself up for e-mail alerts on card activity. Should someone have your card or number in hand, you’ll know it sooner and can take action fast.
- Use of the CVV (the little 3-digit number on the back of your card) is a good security measure. Many websites ask for this verification code to prove that you do, in fact have the card. The downfall? If someone else has your card, they have the CVV, and once you enter the CVV into a website or use it to verify some other purchase, well… anyone with access to the purchase info who also has shady intentions now has both your card number and CVV. There is a new piece of technology to the rescue, however. This handy little gadget, usually attached to your key chain, will randomly choose a new number every few seconds, based on certain factors, to act as your CVV for any given purchase. This is a great investment if you’re looking to protect yourself.
While you certainly cannot single-handedly put and end to credit card fraud and identity theft, you still have plenty of options for protecting yourself. Be proactive and don’t tolerate thieves who want to take advantage of your good name!
