Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is one of the most prevalent types of identity theft crimes in the world, and so it is very important that you take steps to protect your own plastic cards, to reduce the risks of them being misused by criminals.  There are many ways in which you can protect your cards, and most important is to keep the details of the card safe and secure, and to be very wary of any requests for your card information.  You should never give out your credit card details over the phone, email system, mail system or online unless you are absolutely sure that the person or business you are providing them to are genuine, and you should never publish your credit card details online in a chat room, forum, online FAQ or any other type of online resource.

If you suspect your credit card has been compromised, then it is very important that you report it to your card provider immediately, as they will be able to cancel the card on the spot, making it impossible for anyone to pay for goods or services or take out money on the card in your name.  The quicker you report this, the more likely it is that you will prevent any fraudulent charges from being run up in the first place, which can save both you and the card provider a lot of money and inconvenience.  If you suspect your credit cards have been stolen you will also need to report this to the police.

Credit card companies have significantly improved their fraud prevention and protection services in the last 5 years, and you should make sure you have provided them with an up to date telephone number (cell phone preferably), as many services will contact you immediately if they spot a suspect charge on your account.