credit card fraud protection

September 18, 2011

How to avoid credit card fraud

Filed under: Credit Card Fraud Protection — Tags: , , , — @ 9:19 pm


How to avoid credit card fraud

As online shopping becomes more popular with savvy consumers around the world, an unwelcome side-business has also increased in activity: credit card fraud.

And while credit card fraud is certainly not limited to the online marketplace, internet users experience more than their fair share of dodgy transactions every day.

There’s no way to completely protect your credit card details when shopping online, but there are plenty of things you can do to minimize your risk.

Your first step towards protecting yourself against credit card fraud is quite straightforward: be extra, extra careful when using your credit card online. This means never inputting your credit card details unless you’re certain the website is trustworthy and reputable. Most online check-out systems allow you to pay via third party processors such as PayPal, which offers an extra layer of protection against credit fraudsters, so consider using these wherever possible.

Also, never respond to emails that ask you to follow certain links and enter confidential information – even if the website appears to be a trusted site, such as eBay or Amazon. Internet fraudsters have been successful in developing sophisticated software and websites that look just like the real thing, so never assume that the link can be trusted. Instead, close the window and re-open a new browser, manually type in the web address, and proceed with your transaction this way.

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It’s prudent to remember, as well, that emails are not secure, so you should think very carefully before sending credit card information via email.

In saying this, you should keep in mind that the internet can also help you to avoid becoming a victim of credit card. If you regularly check your account balance online – ideally, at least once per week – you can monitor your transactions and, hopefully, identify any unusual purchases early on. When you receive your monthly statement in the mail, you should also consider cross-referencing it with your receipts.

In an offline environment, never let your credit card out of your sight. Skimming – where credit card details are copied, and then duplicated onto new cards – is becoming more and more common, but there are steps you can take to minimize this risk.

If you’re in a restaurant, for example, don’t hand your card over to the waiter; instead, walk up with him or her to the cashier and hand over your card yourself. If you’re in a high-end restaurant and you’re embarrassed about transacting this way, apologize and tell the waiter that you’ve been the victim of credit card fraud in the past, so you prefer not to let your card out of your sight. It’s better to be embarrassed for a few minutes, then to find out that thousands of dollars worth of transactions have been illegally charged to your card!

What if your account has been compromised?

If you suspect illegal transactions have been charged to your credit card, inform your card provider immediately. They will immediately cancel your card and issue a fresh card, to prevent any further transactions from being applied. Also, if they investigate and do find that unlawful transactions have occurred, your account will be reimbursed.





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September 17, 2011

Please Help me i cant see my CREDIT? IM 18?

Filed under: Credit Card Fraud Protection — Tags: , , , — @ 4:20 pm


Question by LeBron James biggest Fan: Please Help me i cant see my CREDIT? IM 18?
Hey im 18 and i leave for basic for the Army soon. I never had a credit card or a car. and i live at home for now.And im trying to check my credit for the first time ever. (so i probably have no Credit) But when i put in my information it says “You may have had a mortgage loan in july 2005″. Im scared cause my dad been to prison before for writing checks. And we use to be homeless and i remember we had a house for a day and i remember we got caught kicked out the next day cause the check didnt go through. Could my dad use my credit when i was little. It was in 2005. Is that possible? When i go further to check my credit it saysWe’re sorry, for your protection we are unable to deliver your FACT Act Equifax Free Annual Credit Report on the internet. There are a number of reasons that we may be unable to fulfill your request online. You may have a Security Freeze on your credit file, an Active Duty Military or Fraud Alert, or the identification information submitted online may not match the information on file.Im in the military so could that be it??? Or is it cause the mortage loan? Or is it cause i have no credit????

Best answer:

Answer by Iffy
If you had bad credit the ARMY would NOT have accepted you. Call Equifax and talk to them. Also explain how old you are and were in 2005 . Relax and good luck Thank you for stepping up



Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

September 16, 2011

could you add any more to this?

Filed under: Credit Card Fraud Protection — Tags: , , — @ 11:21 am


Question by darren w: could you add any more to this?
Some survey indicate that as many as six million Britons have been victims, although the government estimates that the crime affects closer to 120,000 people each year. Either way it’s one of the fastest-growing crimes of the 21st century.These tips could help to protect you: 1.Shred sensitive information. Shred financial statements, offers of loans and credit cards, catalogue account details or anything else that could be used to impersonate you before binning them. Thieves go through rubbish to see if there is anything useful – an exercised known as storing raiding.2.Check your statements carefully. Go through your credit card and bank statements every month. Unexpected entries can be the first indication that somebody is stealing your money.3.Learn to love your credit report. Your credit report is such an effective tool in the fight against ID fraud that the government recommends regular checks to protect yourself. It gives you a snapshot of your borrowings and repayment record, so you can easily spot unfamiliar accounts and suspicious balances. You tin see your Experian credit report online with a free trial of CreditExpert, the UK’s leading online assigning monitoring and ID fraud protection service.4.Limit your social networking. It’s tempting to include basic information such as your full name and date of birth in your profile, then add interesting details such as your pets’ or children’s names and nicknames. Don’t – these are the kind of detail that you probably use for passwords and PINs, so leave them out. Your cyber-friends might be fraudsters looking for enough data to steal your ID.5.Don’t risk important documents. Don’t carry your passport, driving licence or even credit cards unless you know you’ll need them and never write down your PINs and passwords. If your bag or wallet is stolen, you could be handing the thieves your identity as well as your cash. 6.Report thefts. Always tell the police, your bank, credit card issuers and anybody else who might be affected if you suffer a theft. That way, your loss is on the record and organisations who might be approached by the thieves will be forewarned. 7.Keep an eye on your post. If mail goes miss, tell the Post Office immediately – someone may be intercepting it, especially if you live in a building with a communal hall where mail is delivered. Be especially careful when you move house and use the Royal Mail’s Redirection Service to forward your post to your new address for at least a year.8.Register to vote at your current address. Lenders use the electoral roll to check that you live where you say you do. If you’re not registered, a criminal could register you at another address. When you move home, always deregister at your old address and re-register at the new one. That way, the people who move into your previous home can’t offer apparent proof that they are you. 9.Don’t respond to cold calls and e-mails. Never reply to e-mails and cold-callers asking for details such as PINs, passwords and account numbers – and don’t fill in your details on whatsoever unfamiliar e-mail or website. Telephone the organisation that is allegedly behind the nearing, using the number in the phone book or in previous correspondence – and warn them what is happening.10.Keep on checking your credit report. You need to check your credit report regularly, because ID thieves could target you at any time. CreditExpert sends retired weekly alerts by e-mail or text to warn you if there has been whatever significant change to your credit report, so you can log on immediately and see whether you are being impersonated. Always respond to these alerts – they give invaluable peace of mind.

Best answer:

Answer by Lion64
It looks good, but I, caring everyone else looking through this category, are not experts. This Category is Computer Security, you might desire to re-ask the question in a different category, because you won’t get any good answers here.



Give your answer to this question below!

September 15, 2011

Q&A: could you add anymore advice to this?

Filed under: Credit Card Fraud Protection — Tags: , , , — @ 6:22 am


Question by darren w: could you add anymore advice to this?
Some appraise indicate that as many as six million Britons have been victims, although the government estimates that the crime affects closer to 120,000 people each year. Either way it’s one of the fastest-growing crimes of the 21st century.These tips could help to protect you: 1.Shred sensitive information. Shred financial statements, offers of loans and credit cards, catalogue account details or anything else that could be used to impersonate you before binning them. Thieves go through rubbish to see if there is anything useful – a practised known as storing raiding.2.Check your statements carefully. Go through your credit card and bank statements every month. Unexpected entries can be the first indication that somebody is stealing your money.3.Learn to love your credit report. Your credit report is such an effective tool in the fight against ID fraud that the government recommends regular checks to protect yourself. It gives you a snapshot of your borrowings and repayment record, so you can easily spot unfamiliar accounts and suspicious balances. You tin see your Experian credit report online with a free trial of CreditExpert, the UK’s leading online attributing monitoring and ID fraud protection service.4.Limit your social networking. It’s tempting to include basic information such as your full name and date of birth in your profile, then add interesting details such as your pets’ or children’s names and nicknames. Don’t – these are the kind of detail that you probably use for passwords and PINs, so leave them out. Your cyber-friends might be fraudsters looking for enough data to steal your ID.5.Don’t risk important documents. Don’t carry your passport, driving licence or even credit cards unless you know you’ll need them and never write down your PINs and passwords. If your bag or wallet is stolen, you could be handing the thieves your identity as well as your cash. 6.Report thefts. Always tell the police, your bank, credit card issuers and anybody else who might be affected if you suffer a theft. That way, your loss is on the record and organisations who might be approached by the thieves will be forewarned. 7.Keep an eye on your post. If mail travelling lose, tell the Post Office immediately – someone may be intercepting it, especially if you live in a building with a communal hall where mail is delivered. Be especially careful when you move house and use the Royal Mail’s Redirection Service to forward your post to your new address for at least a year.8.Register to vote at your current address. Lenders use the electoral roll to check that you live where you say you do. If you’re not registered, a criminal could register you at another address. When you move home, always deregister at your old address and re-register at the new one. That way, the people who move into your previous home can’t offer apparent proof that they are you. 9.Don’t respond to cold calls and e-mails. Never reply to e-mails and cold-callers asking for details such as PINs, passwords and account numbers – and don’t fill in your details on whatsoever unfamiliar e-mail or website. Telephone the organisation that is allegedly behind the nearing, using the number in the phone book or in previous correspondence – and warn them what is happening.10.Keep on checking your credit report. You need to check your credit report regularly, because ID thieves could target you at any time. CreditExpert sends retired weekly alerts by e-mail or text to warn you if there has been whatsoever significant change to your credit report, so you can log on immediately and see whether you are being impersonated. Always respond to these alerts – they give invaluable peace of mind.

Best answer:

Answer by Christopher K.
I think you have covered just about every base there is to cover…….The only thing that I would add, is ‘Use common sense, if it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t……”Thanks for the tips and education for preventing identity fraud!!!Christopher K.



Add your own answer in the comments!

September 14, 2011

How To Prevent Credit Card Fraud

Filed under: Credit Card Fraud Protection — Tags: , , , — @ 1:30 am

How To Prevent Credit Card Fraud

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In the day and age of online banking and internet shopping it’s no wonder that consumers are becoming more and more comfortable with giving away their bank details. This attitude has inadvertently lead to the rise of fraud as hackers and scammers come into contact with growing numbers of people who use the web for business and leisure. Credit card fraud isn’t inevitable however and consumers and banks alike can work together to prevent this from happening.

The first port of call for anyone looking to prevent credit card fraud is to never use a site you don’t trust. The rise in fraud has a direct link to ‘phishing’; a type of scam whereby fraudsters create opportunities for card holders to unwittingly enter their details and personal information. If you are not purchasing something the use of card details is generally not required so be suspicious if this is the case. Protect your card details and don’t give them out to people who companies you do not know or have never met.

Shopping online is an activity enjoyed by millions of people across the globe and web users shouldn’t be put off by the threat of credit card fraud but should be vigilant. If you get a bad feeling from an online store or something happens to raise your suspicion simply move your business on elsewhere. Icons that signify ‘secure online banking’ can easily be replicated by fraudsters so it’s advisable to shop from reputable brands or online equivalents of recognised and respected high street names.

Finally, card holders shouldn’t leave the security of their details entirely up to the banks. Today’s providers work hard to stay up to date with the latest anti-virus technologies and banking software is one of the fastest growing sectors, simply in a bid to keep up with hackers and fraudsters alike. That said, 90% of credit card fraud is linked to weaknesses in individual’s home computers that lack basic virus protection. Installing an anti-virus software package or Firewall will arm your home PC against attack and invasion, thus allowing you to shop safely online.

Are you a credit card holder? Do your bit to prevent credit card fraud by protecting your home computer, only giving out your details when necessary and keeping your wits about you when shopping online.

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