To limit the potential for
fraud if your credit cards are lost or stolen:
Keep a list of the names, account
numbers and the expiration dates of your cards in
a safe place. This will aid you when alerting your
credit grantors of the lost or stolen card.
Call your credit grantors
immediately after discovering your cards are missing.
Most have 24 hour toll free numbers for this purpose.
If you reopen the account, ensure they have your
correct address.
Carry only the identification and
credit cards you need when traveling - whether locally
or out of town.
Do not carry your credit cards in
your checkbook.
If your checkbook is lost or stolen,
call your bank or Credit Union. Inform them of the
check numbers missing.
If your Social Security Card is missing,
contact the Social Security Administration.
If your Driver's License is missing,
contact the appropriate agency in your area.
To limit the potential for
fraud when using your credit cards:
Sign your credit cards in permanent
ink as soon as you receive them.
When making a purchase, keep your
card in view at all times. Retrieve it as soon as
the transaction is completed and make sure it is
yours.
Do not sign a blank charge slip. Draw
a line through the lines above the total line.
Destroy any carbons.
Always save your receipts. Never leave
them behind.
If requested to show a credit card
as identification when using a check, do not let
the sales clerk write down the account number.
Avoid saying your account number
if others can hear.
Do not give out credit card information
on a cell phone or a cordless phone as these types
of phones can be hacked into easier than a traditional
wired phone.
Only provide your ID and credit card
information over the phone to companies with whom
you have initiated the call. Never provide it to
a solicitor. If you are interested in the product,
ask them to send you information. Any legitimate
company will be happy to comply.
If using your credit card on the Internet, make
sure the page is secure by looking for https in
the address bar of the browser window and by clicking
on the lock icon at the bottom right hand corner
of the window. The security certificate displayed
should match the name of the company.
To limit the potential for
fraud, review your credit card statements:
Check your statement as soon as it
arrives to ensure the charges are correct.
Keep statements in a safe place. They
contain sensitive information.
Consider signing up for e-statements
to limit the potential for your mail to be intercepted
by criminals.
Before discarding old statements,
even of closed accounts, cross-cut, confetti,
or shred them.
If your statement does not arrive,
call your credit card issuer.
If called by your issuer and the caller
asks for your account number, do not provide it.
If the caller is with the issuer, they will know
your number.
To limit the potential for
fraud, check your credit file at least once per
year:
It is beneficial to check your credit
profile periodically. There are three national
credit reporting agencies:
