Recognizing Credit Card Fraud
Contributed by Rachel s Pickett
Recognizing Credit Card Fraud
Many people are victims of credit card fraud and don't even know it! Credit card fraud and identity theft are two of the largest growing crimes in America today. In 2000 U.S. House Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Clay Shaw said that identity theft affects between 500,000 and 700,000 consumers each year. With the growth of this crime the estimated number is now around 15,000,000. That is 28 victims per second!
If you are a victim of credit card fraud you may have questions like, "why me"? or, "how did this happen"? The truth is it could have been anybody. Credit card fraud doesn't care who you are or what you do for a living, and exists online as well as offline. Cleaning up the mess that these criminals make of your credit will cost you months of time and thousands of dollars. Even then, you name may not be cleared for up to 7 years.
Avoiding credit card fraud is the only way to make sure that you don't become the next victim. Recognizing the warning signs and following some simple advice will help secure your credit card when shopping around town or at home in front of your computer.
Preventing Offline Credit Card Fraud
Offline is the term meaning you are not connected to the internet. When you are making offline purchases it could be anywhere. The movies, as restaurant,or a store are all places that offline credit card fraud can happen. Preventing offline credit card fraud usually just takes an eye. You want to watch any store clerk or cashier that you hand your credit card to, and you want to make sure your know what you are signing.
There are several ways that you can protect your credit card while shopping, dining, or enjoying entertainment in public.
