| The information on your credit card is not as | | | | disclosed information on your credit card to |
| secure as you might believe. It is possible | | | | strangers. Unsolicited calls by strangers |
| for anyone to acquire your credit card | | | | asking users for their credit card and social |
| information simply by hacking into a merchant | | | | security numbers are one of the many scams |
| database, stealing your card, or asking you | | | | that have plagued users. It is therefore |
| for the information it contains. Whilst the | | | | important to remember that you are not |
| first scenario has a lower chance of | | | | obligated to disclose your credit card number |
| happening, it is not impossible. If this | | | | to anyone over the phone. |
| happens, credit card companies will notify | | | | |
| their users and reissue the credit cards to | | | | Apart from that, when making purchases with |
| replace those in which security has been | | | | your credit card, you should never sign on a |
| compromised. | | | | blank receipt. Keep all your receipts to |
| | | | prevent others from obtaining your credit |
| On your part, having your card or identity | | | | card number and the expiration date. Usually, |
| stolen has a greater effect on you as an | | | | these two pieces of information are enough to |
| individual. If this happens with you being | | | | allow an online transaction to go through. As |
| aware of it, you should report the loss to | | | | for online transactions, always use a private |
| your credit card company immediately. In most | | | | computer to make the transactions rather than |
| cases, it has been found that victims of | | | | on a computer in a cyber cafe. You should |
| credit card theft pay no more than $50 for | | | | also make all card transactions on your own, |
| all unauthorized purchases charged by the | | | | even if you are paying for someone else. |
| thief. It is also a good idea to always keep | | | | Finally, when you are closing your account, |
| a photocopy of both sides of your credit card | | | | it is best to cut up your card before mailing |
| as well as the contact number of your card | | | | it back to the credit card company. |
| company in case of emergencies like this. | | | | |
| | | | Adam Goldman recommends Find Credit Cards to |
| At time, it may not be easy for you to | | | | apply for a First Premier card. |
| realize that you may have unwittingly | | | | |