How to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Identity Theft
How to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Identity Theft
You might assume that identity theft happens so infrequently that there is no reason you should use more than the usual measures to prevent it from happening to you. Most people take a moderate amount of care to protect their information such as shredding important documents and cutting up credit cards when they expire. What these people do not realize is that they can become victims credit card identity theft a lot easier than they think.
One tip to prevent your credit card information from being stolen is to be more aware when you are using the Internet. The Internet is an amazing convenience for buying goods and services but if you are not careful you can easily become a victim. The most important thing you should avoid is giving out your credit card information unless you are absolutely sure that the site you are using is safe and secure. Make sure you are only dealing with reputable companies or individuals when you are using your credit card online and always look to see what kind of security the site you are using has.
A second tip is to be careful when you are sending your information through the mail. Some thieves use the very low-tech method of searching through your mailbox or your trash (which is why it is always important to shred your important documents). There are a lot of different reasons that you might be sending your information through the mail such as signing up for a magazine subscription.
Instead of leaving these unattended after you put them in the mailbox and wait for your mailman to come get them you can take them straight to the post office. Alternatively you can look into options like sending a cashier's check or making a phone transaction, which will limit the risk of credit card identity theft.
A final tip is to be aware of your financial transactions. Make sure you note exactly what you are spending and when, that way when you get your bill you can reference your notes to make sure that all of the transactions match up. Some credit card identity thieves take advantage of the fact that people do not keep up with their finances as well as they should. Look out for small transactions, which may not look like much at the time but can add up over a long time of use.