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