Credit cards, debit cards, and credit reports:
1. You have to diminish the number of credit and debit cards that you carry around with you every day in your wallet. I would suggest that you don’t use debit cards at all due to the potential for shoulder snatching anyway. In its place, you should carry one or two credit cards and your ATM card in your wallet and that is all. Debit cards might be popular but you have to take the benefit of online access to your bank account in order to monitor for frequent account activity. Try to report anything strange as fast as you can.
2. When you use your credit and debit cards at restaurants and stores, you must pay close attention to how the magnetic stripe information is taken. Some dishonest employees have been known for using small hand-held devices which are called skimmers in order to quickly swipe the card and then they download the account number data onto a personal computer later on.
3. When you shop online, try not to use debit cards. You can use a credit card which will protect you more in case of fraud.
4. Always carry a photocopy of all your credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, and other financial information such as the account numbers and expiry dates. Try not to carry it around with you in your wallet or your purse. This way, if the information is stolen, you can report it.
5. Don’t ever give out your SSN, credit or debit card number or other personal information over the phone, by mail, or on the Internet or if you are the one who initiated the phone call.
6. Whenever you get any, always take credit card receipts with you. Never toss any of them in a public garbage container. Also, don’t forget to always take them out of your shopping bag.
7. Never allow people to write your credit card number onto your checks.
8. When you expect a new credit card to arrive, always make sure you watch out for the mail.
9. Try to order your credit report at least once a year.
10. Get a free credit report from Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian
Want to know more? Click to the next page, Identity Theft Prevention 4