The economy isn't doing too well these days. People are worried about credit, the slow economy and the high unemployment rate. These are not the only things that are threatening your financial stability too. There is also credit card fraud and identity theft.
Credit card fraud usually happens when a third party is able to gain access to your credit account by accessing your credit card details. Identity theft is a much more complicated scenario where the thief is able to get a hold of your person
al information, most commonly your social security number. Both of these threats are quite serious. If left undetected for a long time, thieves can steal your entire savings or sell your identity to someone else, usually someone who is going to use your identity for illegal purposes.
The damage of credit card fraud and identity theft can be enormous. Financially, it cold cost your your entire savings. You can also be implicated in illegal acts even though you were not a part of the situation. The cost in time and wasted money when you are trying to put your details back in order will also be quite high as well.
To avoid these situations, here are a few tips that you should try:
Keep Your Credit Card Numbers Safe
This is an absolute must if you own a credit card. The numbers on a credit card can be used by credit card thieves to access your account if it is compromised. Keep it safe and do not give it to anyone else unless they are fully qualified to know it.
Be Aware Of Phone Scams
Thieves often use the phone to scam people for their credit details. A favorite tactic is to call the victim and pretend to be from the victim's credit company. They will use any kind of technique to get you to give up your credit card information. A common one is to claim as someone from your credit company claiming to have traced an illegal charge and attempting to stop it. They will then ask for your credit number and other details.
Watch Out When You Use The ATM
The ATM is a very convenient piece of equipment. It is also a very common way for thieves to collect credit card and personal information. Be wary of tampered or odd looking ATMS. They may be hidden gadgets made to steal your credit card information.
Keep Online Shopping Safe
Online shopping is the next big thing amongst consumers. The convenience of finding what you are looking for online and buying it from there has many advantageus over traditional transactions. However, you are also faced with more risks. Make sure that you are browsing the right website and that your computer has no viruses and spywares.