Guard Against Identity Theft
Your credit card provides you with valuable purchasing power and convenience.
To purchase a number of goods and services, all you need to do is present
your card and sign a receipt. Unfortunately, this power and convenience also
make your card that much more appealing to criminals looking to take advantage
of your credit.
Guard your credit cards as you would the key to your home. When receiving
a new or replacement card, sign the back immediately. Keep it and any duplicate
cards in a secure place where you would know if they were missing.
Never leave your credit card with someone as a “security deposit.”
And, if you’re expecting a new or replacement card, keep a sharp eye
on the mail.
Since a thief can just as easily make purchases with only your account number
and expiration date, it’s a good idea to take all receipts and carbons
with you, especially from places like automated teller machines (ATMs), supermarkets,
and self-service gasoline pumps.
Avoid disposing of purchase documents or old statements in public trash containers,
and never give your account number to someone calling you on the phone—even
if the caller says it will be used to claim a “valuable” prize
or award.
Your personal information should always stay with you. With the exception
of mail order companies, merchants should never require your address or telephone
number to complete a transaction.
Avoid using a credit card as personal identification. Never let someone
put your card number on a check or any other document not associated with
a purchase on your account. (In some states, it is actually against the
law for merchants to do so.) Use your driver’s license or other ID
instead.
If your account has a personal identification number (PIN) for use at ATM
locations, don’t write it down: memorize it. And it’s a good idea
not to pick an obvious PIN, like your address, phone number, or date of birth.
Next: Lost or Stolen
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