Fighting Credit Card Fraud (cont.)
Contributed by Rachel s Pickett
What to Do if You Are a Victim of Credit Card Fraud
Knowing what to do and doing it quickly if you become a victim of credit card fraud is crucial to your combating the criminal who stole from you. The first thing you should do is to immediately close your credit card accounts. Contact the issuer(s)of your credit card(s)and tell them what has happened to you. If your credit card information has been stolen contact the Police and the Federal Trade Commission immediately. The next thing you should do is place a fraud alert on your credit report.
Once you have done this, the criminal cannot use your credit account or open any new accounts in your name. If you believe any of your other accounts may have been tampered with, you should also close and report these accounts.
Ways to Avoid Credit Card Fraud
-=-Do NOT lend you credit card to anyone
-=-Do NOT leave cards or receipts lying around
-=-When you sign a receipt draw a line through any blank spaces above the total. NEVER sign a blank receipt.
-=-Do NOT give your account number to anyone over the phone unless you called the issuing company yourself.
-=-NEVER write your account number or pin on any surface someone else might view. Do not carry these numbers in your purse or wallet.
