Preventing Credit Card Fraud

Holidays mean only one thing, expense, it’s time for you to get out your credit and debit cards and buy all those things that you need at this time of year. If you want to be sure that all of the items listed on your next statement were actually purchased by you, then you might want to make a note of the following steps.

Keep records of your credit cards

You should always list both your credit and debit card details on separate sheets of paper. Included on this paper should be your card type, its number, expiry date and the number on the back of the card. This information will be needed in case you need to contact your credit or debit card supplier. You should keep this piece of paper in a safe place and not with your cards.

It is a good idea to bookmark credit and debit card numbers in your cell phone, as well as writing the information down on paper. If you should have the misfortune of having your cards lost or stolen then you can contact the company who issued them before any real damage is done.

Watch your credit card

You should keep a close watch on your credit card at all times and especially when you are in a store shopping. Watch out for any suspicious behavior on the part of the store clerk such as writing something down while processing your payment etc. If you see any untoward behavior then you should question the situation and ask for the manager straight away.

Sign up for online statements

It is easy enough to sign up for an online account with your credit card, and you should sign up straight away if you haven’t already done so. To sign up for an online account just type in the website address that should be on the reverse side of your card. Then follow the onscreen instructions on how to open an online credit card account. If perhaps there is no url on the reverse of your card then call the company’s customer support department and they should be able to help you..

Online statements are useful because they enable you to see all of the transactions at a glance. In addition to this you don’t have to wait a month to receive your statement as you can just go online to access your account and find the transactions straight away.

Be organized

Whenever you use your credit card to make a purchase you should save the receipt. When you make online purchases with your card then remember to print off the receipt and save it. You should staple all your receipts to your monthly statement when you receive it.

Check each transaction against the paper statement before you staple your receipts on the back of it. You should enquire what has happened if something doesn’t match up. If you think the statement contains suspicious transactions then you should contact your card issuer immediately.

If you follow these tips then you will have gone a long way towards preventing credit card fraud. Remember that your credit cards are your responsibility. You should keep your credit cards in a safe place and never lend your card to another person. Visit the FTC’s website at ftc.gov. for more information on credit card fraud.