Protect Yourself from Credit Fraud

With the advent of camera phones and online shopping, we have become more vulnerable to credit fraud than every before. Here are some tips to protect you from credit fraud.
* If you withdraw money from an ATM machine, ensure that no one is standing behind you. More often than not, unscrupulous individuals use cell phones to record your pin number.
* When choosing a pin number, use numbers and letters. Memorize it. Don’t carry it around in your purse.
* If you receive credit card bills in the mail, either keep the top portion in a box or shred it.
* Call the three reporting agencies and add a fraud alert message to each one so that if anyone attempts to open an account in your name, you will immediately be notified.
* When a credit card has expired, cut it up before discarding it.
* If your credit card is lost or stolen, call the credit card company immediately.
* Sometimes mail is stolen or delivered to the wrong party; if you have not received your credit card bill when you expect it, call the credit card company and report it.
* When shopping online, ensure that the site is encrypted and has the locked key in the bottom right hand corner of your screen.
* Obtain a credit report from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion annually to determine if there are any suspicious entries.
* If you pay for credit card bills online and have signed up for their paperless service, always check your monthly statements online to ensure all the transactions were made by you.
* Do not carry more than one credit card. Keep it in a separate compartment in your purse or in a change purse in your bag, or in a pouch attached to the inside of your clothing.
* When purchasing items at a store, ensure that after you swipe your card and sign your name, the screen is clear.
* Change your online banking passwords every month, as well as passwords used when paying credit card bills online.
* Sign up for a password protection key with eBay and PayPal. For $5.00 they will send you a key that allows you to enter random numbers after you sign into these sites. For example, when you sign into PayPal with your username and password, you press the tab on the key and six random numbers will appear. The numbers change every time you use it.
* Some online credit card companies also offer virtual passwords. This is another alternative used to avoid credit card fraud.
Credit card fraud has become a serious issue for everyone. The more tools and resources you can utilize to prevent it, the less likely you are to become a victim.