16 Ways to Avoid Internet Credit Card Identity Theft

Identity theft can happen anywhere to anyone. In line at the store, online at home or when you're buying your morning coffee. If your identity is stolen, you can spend hundreds of hours cleaning up your credit and struggling to get back your good name. That's because stolen identities are used up to 30 times, with most victims only discovering the theft after they've been turned down for a loan or contacted by a collection agency. You may already be a victim, many times over, and not even know it.

Did you know that credit card identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the U.S. with over 9 million people victimized annually? especially on the Internet. If you are a victim of identity theft, you may lose the ability to get and use credit cards, loans, and even the most basic services such as phone service and television. You could even end up in jail due to mistaken identity! Fortunately, there are some great identity theft prevention software and other cost-effective services to help you protect and detect identity theft.

These are a few tips to help you avoid Internet credit card fraud:

1. Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you some assurance.

2. Don't trust a site just because it claims to be secure.

3. Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.

4. Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.

5. Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.

6. Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.

7. Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account.

8. Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.

9. Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller's area.

10. Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.

11. Don't judge a person/company by their web site.

12. Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).

13. Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.

14. The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.

15. Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.

16. You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer's contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately.

Check on your credit card statements, check you bank statements on a monthly basis. Don't let them sit and pile up, anyone who uses a credit card could potentially be hacked and could become a victim through no fault of their own.Over the last five years there has been between 600 and 800 cases of credit card fraud per year. And as of this year 2009 is right on track.

One more small tip:

Be especially aware of small charges on your credit card statements - It adds up and most people don't look at those little charges... And that's the thing thieves are gaming on. Because, they may not seem like much to you at that time, but when combined with hundreds or thousands of other small charges it creates a big pay day for one crook.