How Can You Be Protected Against Credit Card Fraud?

We see it on the news all the time where people are being scammed by different people that are commonly called fraud artist. You may get a phone call saying that you won a trip and all they need is your credit card number to begin the process. Or you may get an email saying you have won a sweepstakes and they want you checking account number so that they can deposit your winnings into your account. Many times we fall victim to that. We may think that it won't happen to us but we can never be sure unless we take the proper steps to make sure it don't happen to us.

Many credit card companies offer fraud insurance. It does cost extra on your credit card statement each month but if you often use your credit card online or if you call companies and give out your credit card number when you place an order you should actually consider it.

If you don't take out this fraud insurance there are some other things that you can do and things that you should not do to prevent fraud. The first thing you should do is always sign the back of your cards as soon as you get them. Do not carry your credit cards in your wallet carry them in another place if someone comes by and steals your wallet they will not get your credit cards if they are not in your wallet. In a separate place write down your credit card number, the expiration date and the name address and phone number of the issuing company. You also want to write down any PIN numbers that are associated with your cards. Keep an eye on your card during transaction and get it back quickly after the transaction. If the clerk can distract you they may make an extra copy of your card and use it to charge things on your account. You must always destroy any carbons and save your receipts to compare against your monthly credit card statement. Open you bills as soon as you get them and compare them against your receipts just as you would your checkbook. Report any questionable charges as soon as you notice them and notify the credit card company in advance for any change in address. You should never loan your card to anyone. Never leave credit card receipts lying around. Never sign a blank receipt if you have to you should draw a line any blank spaces above the total. Never write your credit card number on the outside of an envelop or on a postcard before you mail them. You should never give out your account numbers over the phone unless you know that the person on the other end is a employee of a reputable company.

Following these steps and using common sense should keep you free of fraud and able to sleep at night knowing you are protected