Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is a serious problem and is a leading cause of identity theft. Credit card fraud is on the rise. Thieves, con men and scam artists steal credit card numbers and make millions of dollars of purchases, often before consumers are even aware that there's a problem.

Because credit card fraud is so common in today's society, we must take every step we can to secure our credit cards and information. Here are some simple things to keep in mind:

- Make sure you always know where your credit cards are located. Don't let them lie around, or lend them to other people. Also, be careful what you do with your credit card receipts, as they often contain your complete credit card number.

- Open credit card statements promptly and check for any suspicious charges. If your issuer provides online account access, use that facility to regularly keep up to date on activities on your card.

- Call to activate and sign your credit cards as soon as you receive them.

- Keep a list of all your credit card numbers, expiration dates, customer service numbers and addresses. Keep this list in a secure place and keep it up to date.

- Retail sales employees who handle card numbers cause a large percentage of credit card fraud. Be careful of who you hand your card to, and don't let it out of your sight if at all possible.

- Never give your credit card information out over the phone, unless you initiated the call or are very certain whom you are talking to.

- Be careful with your online purchases. Before entering any personal information on a website, verify that the website is secure. Do that by checking the status bar at the bottom of your browser, somewhere on there it'll show the symbol of a closed lock to indicate that the website is secure and your information will be encrypted. That means that outside parties will not be able to read the information you're sending.

Credit card fraud is a major problem faced by online businesses and merchants. It is costing them millions of dollars in losses, charge backs and processing fees every year. It is estimated that half of all credit card fraud is conducted online.

For that reason, if you have an online business, protecting yourself is vital. You have to implement every form of protection offered by your credit card gateway and merchant account holder.

Credit card fraud is clearly a very broad topic of discussion and one that we all need to take seriously.

Eating good, nutritious food and drinking enough water are vital to your health. The time you invest in making the right food choices and preparing healthy meals will pay off in dividends.

If you put just some of these tips into action over the next few weeks, youll definitely be protecting your number one business asset and feeling the benefits. Take that 15 minute break now you deserve it!