Credit Card Quick

Why we Love Online Shopping

Introduction

Online shopping is just about the best thing to come along since the advent of the Internet. After all, shopping in our pajamas, at any time of the day or night, is pretty hard to beat.

And there’s no other time of the year to become an online shopper than during the holidays. Online shopping is practical, convenient, and just, well, enjoyable, and here’s why:

• Most of us lead busy lives that are taken over by work, household chores and children. So, what better way to get your holiday shopping done than on your own time, even if that time is the middle of the night? The Internet, unlike brick and mortar stores, is never closed, thereby allowing you to get all your holiday shopping done any old time you want.
• One of the top reasons consumers give for shopping online is they can avoid the holiday crowds. No bumping elbows with hundreds of other shoppers, no searching for a parking space, and no standing in line for what seems like hours just to purchase one item.  And it’s a whole lot easier to find just what you’re looking for by surfing the Web instead of schlepping it from store to store.
• Many consumers find the best deals on the Internet. In addition, it’s much easier to compare prices between retailers when shopping online. The result? Your holiday budget may go a bit farther if you shop online. And don’t forget to take advantage of all those free shipping and coupon offers many online retailers offer during the holiday season.
• If you have friends and family who live across the country, there’s no better way to send them their holiday gifts than through an online retailer. Plus, shipping their gifts directly to them is usually a great way to save a fortune on shipping costs. Don’t forget that most online retailers also offer gift wrapping services, too!
• Online shopping is a great way to avoid compulsive shopping. Stores make it their business to lure you into purchasing things you may not need, but online shopping allows you to concentrate on purchasing only what you set out to purchase, and nothing more, thereby saving you big when it comes to your holiday budget.

How to Protect yourself from Credit Card Thieves this Holiday Season

Identity Theft

‘Tis the season…to have credit card thieves steal you blind.

Sure, that sounds a bit pessimistic, but the reality is that credit card thieves are banking on the fact that you’ll let your guard down long enough for them to swoop in and steal your credit card numbers during the holiday season. Here’s how to stop them:

• Check out website security – Online shopping is certainly convenient and practical, but entering your credit card information over the World Wide Web can leave you financially vulnerable. If you want to take advantage of the great online holiday deals, remember to check your computer’s security, as well as the website’s security. Make sure your browser is secure by checking for the locked padlock sign near the address bar and by looking for the address to start with “https” instead of “http.” In addition, don’t shop from a website if you are not familiar with them; or, if you aren’t familiar with a website, take the time to read online reviews from other customers.
• Keep extra credit cards at home and take only what you need – When you’re in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, you may be vulnerable to pick pockets or purse snatchers. In order to decrease your chances of becoming a victim, carry only what you need. Remove most of the cash from your purse or wallet and carry only those credit cards that you plan on using during that shopping trip. The less you have in your purse or wallet, the less you will lose if you fall victim to a thief.
• Shop with one credit card – Complete your holiday shopping with just one credit card with a competitive, fixed interest rate. If you use just one card, you can better track your spending and charges, thereby allowing you to eliminate confusion between cards or billing mistakes from escaping your attention.
• Check credit card activity online and look for errors – Take advantage of your credit card’s website to check the activity of a card on a weekly (or even daily) basis during the holiday season. If you spot errors, you can deal with them immediately, instead of waiting to receive your monthly statement.

How to Master Online Shopping this Holiday Season

News

Online shopping has become the shopping method of choice for millions of Americans, and understandably so. After all, what could be better than relaxing in the comfort of your home instead of braving the weather and the crowds to make out on holiday deals?

Retailers are getting in the act, too, offering online customers competitive deals on online purchases. In fact, some of the deals expected to be offered online this year trump any deals you may see in stores.

Although shopping online is a relatively safe process, provided you have a good firewall and are shopping off a secure site, there are a number of ways to further ensure that your online holiday shopping experiences are positive ones:

• If you are shopping off a website of which you are unfamiliar, it is best to do a little research regarding the company. There is no shortage of websites and blogs out there that allow consumers to sound off on online retailers, whether good or bad, so take a moment or two and research the website from you want to shop before making any purchases. Some things to look for include: return policy; customer service; quality of merchandise; and shipping costs.
• Before making an online purchase, take the time to read the online merchant’s privacy and security policies. These policies will let you know if the merchant sells their buyer’s information and what they do to protect your privacy.
• Even if you’ve shopped with a particular online retailer in the past, make sure the website is secure before making a purchase. There are two ways to ensure that the website is being protected: a padlock icon near the website address and a website address that starts with “https” instead of “http.” Anytime you receive a notice that the website’s security certification is either not updated or not active, do not place an online order!
• Decline the merchant’s offer to save your credit card information, as this may provide a weak link of which identity thieves often take advantage. Although it may be a bit more of a hassle to re-enter your credit card information every time you make a purchase, it will protect your credit card and your identity in the process.

Credit Card Fraud is on the Rise: How you can Protect yourself from becoming the Next Victim

Identity Theft

The numbers are quite staggering: credit card fraud flew to the number-one spot in 2009 in terms of identity theft. In particular, credit card fraud accounted for nearly 75 percent of all identity theft cases last year.

This jump in credit card fraud represents an amazing 63 percent increase from 2008. In addition, the number of identity theft victims rose 12 percent to 11.1 million.

Other numbers reported by Javelin’s annual identity theft fraud report include:

• Total losses from identity theft rose 12 percent to $54 billion in 2009, up from $48 billion in 2008.
• Theft amounts, per victim, were approximately $4,481 in 2009.
• Debit card fraud dropped to 33 percent of all identity theft, down from 35 percent in 2008.

It’s no surprise that identity theft is steadily increasing, given the amount of time that individuals spend on the Internet, notebooks and PDAs.

So, what can you do to ensure that you’re not the next victim of credit card fraud?

• Use one credit card exclusively for online shopping. This will allow you to better monitor the card and the activity on the card. You may also want to request a lower credit limit on the card to prevent a credit card thief from going wild on your credit card.
• Make sure all of your credit cards have ample credit card theft protection. Carefully read the terms and conditions of your credit cards so that you are aware of your responsibility should your credit card be stolen.
• Never, ever, ever make a purchase online unless you have the most up-to-date firewall protection.
• Pay close attention to merchants when handing over your credit card. Many of the identity thefts of today can steal your credit card numbers in a matter of second using small, handheld devices called skimmers. Many times, this theft is done when the merchant walks away from the counter to complete your purchase.
• Use the power of the Internet to check and recheck your credit card accounts. Easy-to-navigate credit card websites allow us to check our current balances, view recent transactions and pay online. Use this technology to keep a close eye on your credit cards so that if your credit card account is compromised then you can deal with it sooner than later.

How to Use your Credit Card for Safer, Online Shopping

Card Security

Online shopping is enjoyed by millions of Americans each year, and is a great way to purchase the items and services you need or want without heading out to the store to do so.

However, along with the convenience of online shopping come the risks; in particular, the risk of fraud, theft or identity theft. Although there are no safeguards that can protect you 100 percent, there are many things you can do to ensure that your next online shopping experience is a safer one:

• Only shop at retailers with which you are familiar. If often just does not pay to shop with an unfamiliar online retailer.
• Never conduct business with a website that doesn’t have a permanent address and phone number.
• Look for the encryption symbol at the bottom of the webpage. The encryption symbol usually looks like a padlock; if the padlock is closed, the website is secure; if it is open, the website is not secure.
• Look at the website’s address. If the address begins with “https” then the information you provide should be secure; however, if the address begins with “http” then the information you provide may not be protected.
• Before shopping, carefully read the terms and conditions of your credit card, as to make sure that you are protected in the case of credit card fraud. Your card’s language should include information about your liability in the event of credit card fraud. If you can’t find the language in your card’s terms and conditions, call the creditor and ask for an explanation of your rights regarding credit card fraud.
• Consider purchasing from website’s that ask for your CVC2 code (they may call it a security code), which is a three-digit code located on the back of your credit card.
• Always read your statements carefully, and report any suspicious activity or unauthorized charges on your credit card immediately.