| It sounds like a no-brainer. You receive your credit | | | | YOU have for the company. That way you'll know |
| card in the mail, along with a note that tells you, | | | | that the person you're speaking with is legitimate. If |
| among other things, to sign the back of your credit | | | | they demur at all, hang up immediately and call your |
| card immediately. Lately, people have seriously | | | | credit card company's fraud line with any details of |
| questioned this course of action, pointing out that if | | | | the call.2. Ditto for any email you receive asking you |
| your card is stolen, a thief then has a perfect copy | | | | to 'verify' details for your credit card info by clicking |
| of your signature to duplicate. Instead, say many, in | | | | on a link in the email to take you to a verification |
| the space for your signature on a credit card, you | | | | page. If it's a company with which you do business - |
| should write 'Ask for Photo I.D.'It sounds like good | | | | PayPal for instance - open a new browser window |
| advice. But what do the experts have to say? | | | | and type in the URL to the legitimate site by hand.3. |
| According to all three major credit card companies - | | | | Keep a separate low credit limit credit card for paying |
| Visa, Master Card and American Express, the answer | | | | online - or use a credit card company that will provide |
| is - sign your credit card immediately. In fact, all of | | | | one-time verification numbers. That way if your |
| them have rules that prohibit merchants from | | | | credit card security is compromised, you're losses are |
| accepting credit cards that don't have a valid | | | | limited by the amount available on the card. Or - use |
| signature. Visa states that a merchant may not | | | | a debit card that you keep just for online purchases |
| complete a transaction UNTIL the card is | | | | the same way.4. Reconcile your credit card bill every |
| signed.Bottom line on the question of whether to sign | | | | month just as you would your checking account. Go |
| your credit card, then, is yes, you absolutely SHOULD | | | | over the bill with your receipts, and report any |
| sign your credit card as soon as you get it. But what | | | | charges for which you don't have a receipt or don't |
| about other security measures you can take to | | | | recognize.5. If you have the option, register all your |
| guard against credit card fraud? Here are five | | | | credit cards with a credit card registration service. In |
| security tips to help you safeguard your credit card | | | | any case, write down all of your credit card numbers, |
| security:1. Never give your credit card number to | | | | expiration dates and contact telephone numbers for |
| someone that calls you on the telephone. If the caller | | | | each card and keep it in a safe place. If your wallet |
| purports to be from a company that you do business | | | | and credit cards are ever stolen, you'll have a handy |
| with, or from the credit card company itself, tell | | | | reference to make sure that you don't miss anyone |
| them that you'll call them back at the number that | | | | when you're calling to report your credit cards stolen. |