How You Can Avoid Credit Card Fraud

Whether we are in good financial shape or in debt, the last thing we all need, is to be a victim of credit card fraud. Here are some basic tips on how to protect yourself from credit card fraud.

Be Proactive

If you credit card becomes lost or stolen, contact your credit card company immediately. This especially applies to debit cards, because of there increased liability and vulnerability.

Always get the carbon copies when using credit cards and destroy them. Crooks are known to "skim" the credit card numbers and use them by going through waste paper baskets or trash cans and retrieving the carbon copy. The same can be said about the receipts themselves, but you will need those to check for irregularities in the purchases and for bookkeeping and tracking purchases. So keep them in a safe place.

Never give out your credit card number over the internet or on the telephone. Only use your credit card in these cases, when you have instigated a purchase yourself and you are doing transactions with a well known, reputable business.

If you are trying to get credit card debt free, and are reducing the number of credit cards you have, without closing accounts, completely destroy those cards. Don't allow some crook to put a few pieces together like a jig saw puzzle and go on a shopping spree, using the card number and expiration date. This also includes older cards that have expired or you have canceled.

Finally, remember bills and any other paperwork that might contain credit card information and dispose of them as well.

If you see any suspicious activity regarding your credit card at all, call your credit card company immediately and report it. This could save you a lot, in liability later. Its not only all of your money on the line, it is also your reputation and good name.