Am I at Risk for Credit Card Scam? (cont.)
Contributed by Rachel s Pickett
If you agreed with more than 5 of these statements it is very likely that you could be the next victim. Just doing one of the above mention statements could put you at a 20% higher risk of credit card scams and identity theft.
Avoiding Credit Card Scams and Identity Theft
There are several ways that you can decrease your chances of being scammed. The following list is compiled of ideas that will help you better manage your credit cards and personal information when it comes to other people.
Cross shred all personal information before throwing it away.
Never give personal information over the telephone.
Think about getting a post office box where you can receive important mail.
Opt out of marketing and phone lists.
Do not use your social security as identification.
Do not carry medical cards, credit cards or bank card pin numbers, and your social security card in your wallet.
Federal and State Laws on Credit Card Scams
In 1998, the federal government passed 18 U.S.C. 1028 "The Identity Theft and Consumption Deterrence Act of 1998". The federal act made identity and theft a federal crime. Since then, all states minus the District of Columbia and Vermont, have passed laws regarding identity theft. Since local and state laws vary, you should check with your local and state legislation to see what changes affect you.
