4 Ways To Protect Your Credit Card Information

The credit card bill comes in the mail. You know what the charges are and what you plan to pay. Then, you open it and a nauseating feeling comes over you.

$2,120?

A 46-inch plasma television?

Scanning your living room, you can’t spot any high-dollar, big-screen TV and you don’t understand why it is listed on your credit card statement. This sick feeling is shared by many victims of identity theft.

Credit cards are a major source of identity theft. It is common for a thief to steal somebody’s wallet or purse and begin charging up the pilfered debt cards. However, with the advent of the Internet marketplace, all a thief needs are those 16 numbers on the front of your plastic card to put you in deep credit card debt.

Safeguarding your credit card information is crucial to your financial stability. Here are ways to keep those important digits on your credit cards out of an identity thief’s grubby hands.Shred Credit Card Receipts and Statements

Don’t leave any paper documentation with your credit card number around for long. After you have inspected receipts and statements, shred them. Whatever you do, don’t put them in the trash unshredded or leave them in your car. Thieves glean credit information easily during car thefts and by rummaging through people’s garbage.Avoid Online Scams

Be very wary about giving your credit card number or Social Security number for online purchases. Shopping over the Internet offers convenience and peril. Some retailers pretend to be legitimate but just set up a Web site to get your financial information. Some of these unscrupulous operators use a mechanism known as phishing by sending out an e-mail asking you to update personal information. They then use the information to steal from you. Research any unfamiliar online outlets that request your information. You can also get virus protection software to weed out unwanted e-mails that may lead you to identity theft.Look Over Your Shoulder

When giving out financial information or swiping your credit card at a retailer or ATM, make sure no one is eavesdropping. Sometimes you have to input your credit card number and personal identification number on a purchase at an offline retailer. Someone nearby can easily jot down the information without you knowing.Watch Out For Missing Credit Card Statement

If you don’t receive your credit card bill when it usually shows up, contact your credit card issuer immediately. Someone may have changed the billing address to divert your mail to get your information. A thief may have even swiped it from your mailbox. It is safer to receive and send your credit card bills through a U.S. Post Office box. Author bio: Brian Williams, a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, has 11 years’ experience writing and editing at daily newspapers in Texas. Learn more about Credit Solutions. Credit Solutions is your alternative to debt consolidation.WP Autoblog Plugin

Identity Theft is now the number one crime in the entire world. It is estimated that $221 billion a year is lost by businesses worldwide due to identity theft. Cyber crime units now analyze 2,000 to 3,000 new viruses per hour. Much of the malware harvests financial and personal data sold to groups who turn it into cash through identity fraud.
One simple toll-free telephone call can block 99.9% of personal exposure to Identity Theft. Aside from expediency of commerce, it’s shocking that legislation has not been enacted to automatically force this common action without the consumer having to make the call.
Every 3 Seconds someone becomes a victim of Identity Theft, 20 lives ruined every minute, 1200 every hour, 28,800 every day, 201,600 every month, and 2,419,200 every year. The impact on the individual is staggering with thousands of dollars in costs and dozens of hours wasted trying to deal with the personal devastation. It could all have been avoided with one simple telephone call.
On an individual level, how does one become a victim of Identity Theft? And most importantly, how can we avoid becoming a victim of this prevalent crime? The odds are clearly stacked against society, our personal information is readily available in this high technology world.
Just as we use firewalls and virus protection programs for our computer health, we need to closely examine the anatomy of this crime of opportunity. What protections are available to insulate us against the potential damage from stolen personal idenitity information?
Many of us may already be victims of Identity Theft and don’t know it yet, or the impact of the fraud has yet to be perpetuated or discovered. Remember those special event tickets you bought, or the hotel reservation, car rental, or airline flight reservation call you made?
Have you ever purchased an automobile and filled out a loan application? How about an application for a cell phone, a store credit card, or an application for an apartment rental? What about a school, personal or equity loan?
Remember all of the information you probably provided? You most likely gave your credit card details, or birth date, social security number, address, bank account references, employment information and/or phone number.
Now ask yourself a few questions … Who has access to all of that information? Do you know them? Do you trust them? What’s to stop them from selling or misusing that data?
It’s a scary proposition, but right now there are probably several file cabinets or computer storage files in different places of business that house enough of your personal information to allow for an easy theft of your identity. It’s a fact of life, we’re ALL vulnerable. But you can easily block the use of that information. You’ll see how in just a moment, but first …
How does information theft become Identity Theft?
Stealing your personal information is only the first step in the criminal process. Once the information is gathered, the thief must then convert that information into a means by which he or she can profit.
One popular method is to simply call one of your credit card companies posing as you and change the billing address for the card and then begin making a series of purchases. Identity Theft perpetrators don’t even need your credit card, they can simply call and have a duplicate card issued. They can establish utility, cable, or cell phone service in your name. Some even obtain leases, car loans and more.
In one recent case, a local bank in Montgomery County, Maryland USA issued a check for $100,000 for an equity loan on a home. The entire transaction was recorded on bank cameras as the check was handed to an impersonator of the home’s actual owner. And that was the second time it happened to the same victim who was exonerated by authorities as an accomplice in the case.
Identity theft ruins lives. It creates a seemingly infinite number of short term problems that turn into a nightmare that can linger for decades. Don’t assume that it can’t happen to you.
ATMs are one the latest points of attack. Thieves have developed credit cards that can temporarily program any ATM machine to copy the magnetic data off of your credit or debit card when you use the machine. This method has effectively collected hundreds of victims in the course of a single weekend from a single machine.
Identity thieves also use handheld magnetic card readers that can be easily purchased right on the internet. Culprits include waiters and waitresses, store clerks, toll booth collectors, and gas station attendants to name a few.
64% of all fraud complaints involve identity theft and it’s not just credit cards. With your personal information, thieves can open bank accounts, order checks and run up huge debt by writing bad checks in your name. Identity thieves have become so creative and talented that most protections schemes can be thwarted.
So what’s the answer? Credit monitoring services like those offered by the credit bureau agencies? Simply put, that’s like having an alarm to alert you after you’ve been ripped off.
The solution is clear, placing a Fraud Alert on your credit profile with the primary credit bureau agencies will block 99.9% of attempts to use your personal information for credit without your permission. Fraud Alerts require direct contact with you before an account can be opened or credit extended in your name. They can be put in place for a period of 90 days and can be renewed every three months.
Unlike fraud alerts, the alternative Credit Freeze option remains in place indefinitely and no credit of any kind can be issued in your name until you take the required steps to remove the freeze.
Just one telephone call is all it takes to any of the primary credit bureaus in the United States:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Identity Theft is not the only problem in using credit. Inside the complex credit system there are credit robbers. Some of your most trusted creditors are damaging your credit scores and credit rating without your knowledge.
But that’s a story for another article, for now you would be well advised to immediately place a Fraud Alert on your credit profile with any of the credit bureau agencies. Then be sure to update that order every 90 days. It’s the best way to avoid becoming an Identity Theft victim. Robert Miller, Ph.D., Fortune 500 Investigations Analyst, author of The Credit Robbers has a FREE 35 page report, Identity Theft Protection and Recovery. The Credit Robbers Newsletter with Tips to Avoiding ID Theft and Boost your Credit Rating, all available at http://STOPIdTheftReport.comWordpress Autoblog Software

Identity theft occurs when someone uses personally identifying information, such as Social Security numbers or credit card numbers, without permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Thieves obtain this personally identifiable information by going through business trash, intercepting credit card information, “pretexting” or “phishing” to obtain personal information under false pretenses, or hacking into vulnerable computer systems.
Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend thousands of dollars and countless hours repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some victims may lose out on jobs, or be denied loans because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit. And the business that allows customer information to be compromised faces a significant customer relations problem.
Many companies collect personal information from their customers, including names, addresses, and phone numbers; bank and credit card account numbers; income and credit histories; and Social Security numbers. In addition, businesses collect and store a multitude of personal information from their employees as well. It is essential that businesses take adequate steps to safeguard this data, and to prevent identify theft.
Employers should keep employee personnel records under lock and key. These records contain names, addresses and Social Security numbers, as well as performance information and salary history. Stored separately, and also under lock and key, should be information relating to employee health information, including workers comp information, doctors’ notes, and leave requests.
These records should be taken out only when needed, and otherwise locked. Employees should not leave this information lying around. Rather, employees should secure such information if they need a bathroom break or are needed on the sales floor.
Protecting customer information is just as important.
First, be conservative in what information is collected in the first place. What is the minimum amount of information needed on each customer? Social Security numbers should be used only for reporting employee taxes and not as customer identification numbers.
Think about whether you should keep customer credit card numbers and expiration dates on file at all. Does it serve an important business function? Is the convenience to your customers of having this information on file important enough to justify the potential risks? Full credit card numbers should not be printed on receipts – use the last four digits only. Expiration dates should not be stored. Check the default settings on credit card processing machines and make sure they are not set to store this information permanently and are printing only the last four digits of the credit card number.
If you do need to keep private customer information for business reasons or to comply with the law, we recommend having a written document retention policy that sets forth how long you will keep the information, and how you will destroy it.
Paper records should be shredded so that they can’t be reconstructed. Media containing electronic records should be erased or destroyed so that records cannot be recovered or reconstructed.
Many of these records will be kept electronically. It is imperative that your computer have adequate firewalls and anti-virus protection. These programs should be updated regularly. Sensitive information should be kept in password protected files.
Sensitive information may also be stored in cash registers, inventory scanners or cell phones, and the security of these devices should be assessed as well. If possible, store sensitive information on a computer that does not have an Internet connection. Web applications, including those where you send information to vendors, are particularly vulnerable to hackers or security breaches.
If a computer is compromised, disconnect it immediately from Internet access. Investigate incidents immediately. You may be required by law to make certain notifications to customers, law enforcement, credit bureaus or your business partners (banks, credit card processors, etc). It is important to have a security plan in place.
The Federal Trade Commission has significant information on how to protect yourself and your customers from identity theft, as well as what to do if you’ve had a breach of security. For example: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/idtheft/bus69.pdf get back girlfriend

Identity theft occurs when a criminal steals personal information from you. It may be your full legal name, your credit card or bank account numbers, your social security or driver’s license number, or other personal data that identifies you uniquely. The identity thief uses the information to apply for mortgages, loans, or credit card applications under your name. They may even use the information to access your bank accounts.
This modern crime is rampant today, and public concerns about it continue to rise. While perpetrators of identity theft are difficult to catch and prosecute, here are a few things you can do to protect your personal financial information and avoid becoming a victim to this malicous crime:
1. Don’t give your personal information to anyone over the phone. Callers who ask for your birth date or social security or other account numbers over the telephone are likely to be identity thieves looking for an easy mark.
2. Don’t send this information to anyone through e-mail or snail mail unless you initiated contact and know and trust the person or company you’re sending the information to.
3. Tear up or shred papers (like your mail) that have personal information on them before you throw them away. This applies to bank accounts, credit card statements, and unsolicited or pre-approved credit card applications.
4. Keep an accurate, up-to-date record (under lock and key) of all your account numbers, noting contact information if they should be lost or stolen. If they are lost, contact the company immediately to notify them and stop all transactions on the account. Be sure to record the service order or confirmation number of your report for later follow-up.
5. Unless you are using your credit cards, store them in a safe, locked place where no one can get to them without your knowledge. Store unused checks, your social security card, and your bank and investment statements in a secure location.
6. Keep copies of your purchase receipts and make sure you got the card back when you used it.
7. Monitor your credit report regularly, at least once a year. By law, you can order one free credit report each year. The major companies that you should contact are Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Review the reports careful to assure you are aware of all accounts they include and that the information about the account status is correct and up-to-date. Be sure to check the section listing recent credit checks, and be sure you know why the inquiry was made.
8. When you are withdrawing money from an ATM, be sure there is no one standing behind you who can watch you enter your PIN.
9. Make sure no one can hear you if you give your credit card numbers or banking information to someone over the phone.
10. When make a purchase on the internet, be sure the website and your transaction are secure.
11. Intall personal security measures on your PC. Use firewalls, virus protection, and adware to identify and remove unwanted cookies and spyware.
12. Password protect all of your internet accounts. Don’t use easy-to-guess passwords like your birthdate, phone number, or anniversaries. Change your passwords, at the least, every six months. Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols that people are unlikely to figure out. NEVER give your password to someone else unless you are completely comfortable with them accessing your accounts.
13. If you do have to write your passwords down to remember them, keep them under lock and key, and don’t share the information with anyone. If you keep them in a computer file, use password protection to discourage spying eyes.
14. Be very suspicious of calls from your bank or other institutions. They do not ask for personal information over the phone or by e-mail. Ask if you can call back or simply refuse to respond.
15. Get on one of the internet lists that remove your name from all pre-approved credit mailing lists. When telemarketers call, tell them to “Take my name off your list.” By law, they can’t call you again for a year.
16. Don’t leave your mail in your personal or post office mailbox for extended periods. This is an open invitation to the identity thief.
17. Order your new checks from your bank and pick them up personally rather than having them mailed to you.
18. Consider purchasing an identity theft insurance policy.
19. To be alerted if someone attempts to make credit applications or transactions under your name, register at a credit watch company that will routinely check your credit report for you on a regular basis and inform you when something in your report has changed. You can also purchase this service from the major credit reporting companies.
20. If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, report it immediately to the U.S. Justice Department and your local police. Also notify your credit card companies and the three credit report agencies to prevent further transactions under your name. Ask credit report companies to freeze your credit report by making a request via certified mail. They will not charge you the normal $10 fee if you are a victim of identity theft. Abhishek<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> is<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> a<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Personal<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Security<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> expert<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> and<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> he<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> has<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> got<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> some<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> great<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> <a<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> href=”http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm“<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> rel=”nofollow”><a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Identity<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Theft<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Prevention<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Secrets<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> <a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> up<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> his<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> sleeves!<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Download<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> his<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> FREE<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> 136<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Pages<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Ebook,<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> “Identity<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Theft<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> -<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Don’t<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Be<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> The<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Next<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Victim!”<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> from<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> his<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> website<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> <a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> .<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Only<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> limited<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Free<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> Copies<a href="http://www.Survival-Today.com/14/index.htm” rel=”nofollow”> available.WP Robot Wordpress Autoposter

Are you one of them? The number of people who have fallen victim to online crimes continues to soar as more sophisticated techniques of identity theft are being developed. You may have purchased a single item online once, and then found out that your credit card has been used by unknown people. You may have clicked something or entered your information in a website that you thought was secure, but afterwards, your bills, financial information and other cards have all been hacked.

These are all cases of identity theft. The sad thing is, they have become common in the Internet scene especially with more people opting to purchase online. This crime occurs when a cyberspace criminal uses another person’s information and pretends to be him or her. This can be done with your Social Security Number or SSN, credit card, bank statements, and more.

What’s more, this crime is actually more complicated as it seems. It has four categories which include financial identity theft, where the criminal uses your name and SSN to buy goods; criminal identity theft or posing as another person when apprehended for a violation or crime; identity cloning, where the person adopts your information as his or her identity in everyday life; and, the business or commercial identity theft, where the criminal gets credit by charging it to another’s business name.

If you know how these criminals work and what means they use to hack information from you, you can avoid falling into their trap and adding to the number. Here are some tips for you to protect yourself against identity theft.

First, protect your SSN. It is safer not to carry around your SSN card as having access to this number can let the criminal know your credit history, bank account, charge accounts, and utility accounts. The person, once he or she gets hold of these, can open new credit or accounts, and even obtain a driver’s license. Avoid giving out your SSN to people you are dubious of.

Another tip is to fight phishing. It is the act of sending email where the criminal pretends he or she is from a legitimate enterprise or company in order to “phish” for private information that can be used for identity theft. The email can lead you to bogus websites that ask for private information like passwords and card information. Ignore this and don’t give out anything. In addition, guarding your personal computer against viruses and spies is a must. Try to use difficult and strong passwords for your email or any other account. You can also use firewalls, spyware protection and virus protection software. Your browser security must also be set to at least “medium”.

If you think you have just been scammed and “phished” or just suspicious about something, it is always best to report to officials such as to SSN Fraud hotline. You can also directly contact your credit card issuers, banks, or any financial outlet concerned. Be cautious and protect your identity. Author and internet entrepreneur Bernard Pragides offers expert advice and tips regarding identity theft. Learn more about identity theft and fraud by visiting his website http://www.IdentityProtek.com for more helpful information.flat back crystals