How to prevent online credit card theft

<h1>How to prevent online credit card theft</h1>Author: <a title="elementaryfinance" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/elementaryfinance/110992.htm">elementaryfinance</a> With increasing frequency and intensity it’s happening and your credit is at risk. The attacks are getting more and more sophisticated and the thieves are becoming more widespread. They are working hard to stay a step ahead of law enforcement and they are largely successful. Your money, your credit, and your identity are at risk of being compromised by <a href="https://<a href="http://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=cj_swe">online" target="_blank">www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=cj_swe">online</a> credit card theft</a>. Did you know that more than 15 million people per year are victims of identity theft? Did you know that it takes an average of 600 hours of work for you to recover from identity theft? Did you know that online credit card theft costs our nation 500 million per year? It’s clear that your identity and credit are at risk and the only way to protect it is to take actions on your own part. Here are five ways that will help you not fall victim to online credit card theft: <ul> <li>Only buy from companies with an actual mailing address- Websites come and go all the time and because of that, it is very easy for a scam to be executed and your money stolen and the website shut down very quickly. Businesses that sell merchandise have addresses. You should also verify this address.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Enter your credit card number in to <a href="https://<a href="http://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=cj_swe">secure" target="_blank">www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=cj_swe">secure</a> </a>websites only- Secure websites always start with HTTPS rather than HTTP. Your internet browser will also have a picture of a lock or some other graphic that will show you that you are in a secure environment.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Say no to work at home schemes- A lot of people are looking for work at home, get rich quick schemes and they are willing to give their credit card number to anybody promising quick riches. Online credit card theft often happens on the websites of thieves playing to the emotions of the average person.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Don’t give your credit card information as a response to an e-mail. No company will ask you to provide your credit card number through an e-mail. If a company e-mails you pointing you to a website to pay for something and it could be legitimate, don’t click on the link. Instead, go to the website and log in to your account.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Get an <a href="https://<a href="http://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=cj_swe">online" target="_blank">www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/landing.ehtml?^start=&companyName=cj_swe">online</a> identity theft prevention service</a>. Online credit card theft can be prevented by paying a small monthly fee for identity monitoring. A company that you know and trust like Equifax is the perfect place to get this service. </li> </ul>   The thieves are going to keep attacking and you may be next. At the very least, an attack would be less than convenient. At worst, it may wipe out your child’s college savings that you have contributed to for years or your retirement money. It’s easy to prevent by enrolling in a protection service like Equifax.  About the Author: Tim is the author of the blog, elementary-finance.com. The goal of this blog is to educate those who have a desire to learn the basics of finance.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/how-to-prevent-online-credit-card-theft-1048883.html" title="How to prevent online credit card theft">How to prevent online credit card theft</a>

With increasing frequency and intensity it’s happening and your credit is at risk. The attacks are getting more and more sophisticated and the thieves are becoming more widespread. They are working hard to stay a step ahead of law enforcement and they are largely successful. Your money, your credit, and your identity are at risk of being compromised by online credit card theft.

Did you know that more than 15 million people per year are victims of identity theft? Did you know that it takes an average of 600 hours of work for you to recover from identity theft? Did you know that online credit card theft costs our nation 500 million per year?

It’s clear that your identity and credit are at risk and the only way to protect it is to take actions on your own part. Here are five ways that will help you not fall victim to online credit card theft:

Only buy from companies with an actual mailing address- Websites come and go all the time and because of that, it is very easy for a scam to be executed and your money stolen and the website shut down very quickly. Businesses that sell merchandise have addresses. You should also verify this address.

Enter your credit card number in to secure websites only- Secure websites always start with HTTPS rather than HTTP. Your internet browser will also have a picture of a lock or some other graphic that will show you that you are in a secure environment.

Say no to work at home schemes- A lot of people are looking for work at home, get rich quick schemes and they are willing to give their credit card number to anybody promising quick riches. Online credit card theft often happens on the websites of thieves playing to the emotions of the average person.

Don’t give your credit card information as a response to an e-mail. No company will ask you to provide your credit card number through an e-mail. If a company e-mails you pointing you to a website to pay for something and it could be legitimate, don’t click on the link. Instead, go to the website and log in to your account.

Get an online identity theft prevention service. Online credit card theft can be prevented by paying a small monthly fee for identity monitoring. A company that you know and trust like Equifax is the perfect place to get this service.

The thieves are going to keep attacking and you may be next. At the very least, an attack would be less than convenient. At worst, it may wipe out your child’s college savings that you have contributed to for years or your retirement money. It’s easy to prevent by enrolling in a protection service like Equifax.

Tim is the author of the blog, elementary-finance.com. The goal of this blog is to educate those who have a desire to learn the basics of finance.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/how-to-prevent-online-credit-card-theft-1048883.html

Article Tags: online credit card theft

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Latest Personal Finance Articles
More from elementaryfinance

FREE Guide to All Government Grants, Scholarships and Loans

By: Pinki Gupta | 29/11/2009
Nowadays innumerable kinsfolk consider sway consent money for an option for repaying their debts. Although this is an preference available to you for eliminating your debts but you must try not to create a situation clout which you will require some help from government or any other person.

sell my house fast,sell my house quick

By: Alice Brooks | 29/11/2009
You may wonder if it is true that even in times of recession it is possible to sell my house fast and even get a good deal from it. Recession does not always mean that you cannot get the right value for your property. It may be difficult but if you work a little harder and think of different strategies, you can sell my house quick and even get the best price for it.

Getting repossession advice earlier is effective

By: Alice Brooks | 29/11/2009
For some reasons, you were not able to pay your mortgage loan. It started from a one month delay, and then it turned two months and continued to miss payments until you were not able to cover the mortgage arrears. Before you know it, here comes a notice of repossession and now you are in a dilemma on what to do. So you finally receive a notice of proceedings. Should you ignore it or take some action? Once you feel the danger of facing house repossession, do not wait for the situation to get out

Get the best repossession advice

By: Alice Brooks | 29/11/2009
Being on a subject of a repossession activity is already an embarrassing situation for most people. Yet this is not all there is when it comes to posing difficulties to a person facing such problem. Aside from the humiliation, there is the problem of recovery of how one should be able to get out of such a situation. The stark reality about repossession is that these people were not given the best repossession advice. As a result, these hapless beings were forced to swallow their pride and force

Get the best repossession advice to sell house fast

By: Alice Brooks | 29/11/2009
Repossession is perhaps one of the worst things that anyone may face when it comes to owning properties. Not only is it a source of shame to a person, it is also commonly held as a symbol of one's failure to maintain one's responsibilities, which resulted to the repossession of property. So if you are in need for great repossession advice, your mother may not be the best person to get an advice from.

Free yourself from the trouble of looking for house buyers

By: Alice Brooks | 29/11/2009
Every one of us has some worries to carry. As a result, some of use are bent and exhausted just trying to cope with matters of looking for the best solution to problems we encounter in life, which may make us bend or make us become stooped just trying to handle them. Just laboring daily to look for the best means of living is something that a lot of us are troubled with. And life, with the intent of polishing us off, will throw in some weighty problems our way.

How to Avoid Impulse Spending

By: Irfan Ardiansah | 29/11/2009
Impulse spending will prevent you from saving money for important reason such as a house, a vacation or a new car. Financial goal must be set and resist spending money on items that isn't important.

Increase Your Financial IQ Book Review – Part 5: Improving Your Financial Information

By: Rich Money Habits | 29/11/2009
Rich Money Habits takes a deeper look at Robert Kiyosaki’s book 'Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money'. This article is part 5 of the book review which digs into Financial IQ #5 – Improving Your Financial Information.

Is selling baseball cards profitable?

By: elementaryfinance | 21/07/2009 | Personal Finance
Elementary-finance.com is kicking off their series about alternative investing. Today we’re going to tackle the subject of selling baseball cards. Baseball cards can sell for a few cents or thousands of dollars so it would only make sense that it could be more than a hobby, or at least we would think so. Let’s see if that’s true.

If you lost your job, you can now afford COBRA Insurance!

By: elementaryfinance | 16/07/2009 | Personal Finance
The unemployment rate is heading up to 10% if you believe the crystal balls of many of the government analysts. Many already have and sadly, many will be losing or lost their jobs. COBRA insurance can help.

Here's the next great penny stock!

By: elementaryfinance | 08/07/2009 | Investing
I had to get you to read this for your own good. I’m sorry to say that I don’t have the next hot penny stock pick but we need to have a talk about penny stocks and why you need to stay away from them. The stats are clear: Much like a slot machine, a few will strike it big but most might as well throw their money in the fireplace and light it up. You are more likely to lose your money. Bottom line!

Using stock market news to your advantage

By: elementaryfinance | 08/07/2009 | Investing
Where do you get your stock market news? There is no shortage of news out there and with the invention of the internet and other modern technology, one can get financial news from around the globe 24 hours a day. In fact, investors routinely come to work at 2 or 3AM to get a jump on the European market news before it affects our country.

Have you rethought your investment strategy lately?

By: elementaryfinance | 08/07/2009 | Investing
Sunday is football day, Saturday is boxing night, and just about any night can be hoops night. Sports is the American past time. Open that up to our world and we can say with confidence that there are very few people who don’t follow at least one sport. One thing we know for sure is that in order to succeed in sports, you have to have a strategy going in to the game. Why is it that if you ask the average investor what their investment strategy is, they won’t have an answer?

Can an investment manager make you money in the stock market?

By: elementaryfinance | 08/07/2009 | Investing
All of the great psychologists of the our world would send us to people like Freud for the answer to the question, do we need an investment manager. The fact is that most of us have that ego that psychologists speak of. In our quest for affirmation of worth, we want to think that we’re good at everything. How’s that for psychological theory?

Where can you find useful investing advice?

By: elementaryfinance | 08/07/2009 | Investing
You’ve noticed it too. There is a flood of investing advice for you to read but much of it doesn’t seem all that useful in part, because half of it is simply saying that the other half is wrong. It’s the classic bulls versus the bears story. Where do you find good investing advice?