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Texas Credit Card Fraud and Theft Crimes Increase Due to New Technology; Houston Defense Lawyer Analyzes Texas Criminal Penalties

Houston, TX (PRWEB) July 21, 2011

As technological advances have caused identity theft to become a significant threat, more people are becoming victims of electronic credit card fraud and identity theft in Texas. Many of these electronic crimes are the result of RFID, also known as radio frequency identification. RFID is a type of technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from a chip found in the object to a reader or scanner.

The RFID chip is often found in many credit cards, passports and driver’s licenses, and allows cardholders to simply swipe their credit card or other form of identification in front of a scanner or receiver that reads the card’s information. RFID readers are readily available for purchase online for a fee.

An investigative story on June 16 by Joel Eisenbaum of KPRC Local 2 News in Houston reports many people are unaware of the RFID technology in their card, and their banks usually don’t tell them the chip is in their card. A security expert interviewed in the story claims the scanners or readers can read credit card information within seconds, including the type of card, the card number and the expiration date of the card.

Identity theft or identity fraud is up all over the county, according to a survey published by the Federal Trade Commission in 2009. The survey reports Texas has one of the highest rates of complaints for identity theft in the United States, which is about 130.3 people per 100,000.

Houston white collar attorney Matt Horak states, “Any individual who purchases an RFID reader can walk past a person’s wallet and gain their credit card information without their knowledge. These individuals can be charged with serious white collar offenses, including identity fraud and credit card fraud, if they are caught.”

According to chapter 32 of the Texas Penal Code, an individual who takes another person’s credit card can be prosecuted in Houston for credit card fraud, which can either be a state jail felony or a felony of the third degree, depending on who the theft was committed against.

Stealing another person’s identifying information can be prosecuted in Texas as identity fraud, which can result in a state jail felony, felony of the third degree, felony of the second degree or felony of the first degree, depending on the number of items obtained from the theft.

“Anyone who is caught using another person’s credit card information could also be charged with various theft offenses, depending on the how the stolen information is used and the amount stolen from the victim,” advises Horak, a theft lawyer in Houston.

Chapter 31 of the Texas Penal Code defines theft crimes as ranging anywhere from a Class C misdemeanor to a felony of the first degree, depending on the value of the property stolen, the type of victim, and the type of offender.

According to Horak, “Identity fraud and credit card fraud usually result in felony convictions in Texas, and depending on the degree of the crime and the circumstances surrounding the offense, penalties can range anywhere from 180 days in jail to 99 years in prison, in addition to a possible $ 10,000 fine.”

The penalties for misdemeanor theft offenses can range from a fine not more than $ 500 for a Class C misdemeanor to a one year jail sentence and a fine up to $ 4,000 for a Class A misdemeanor, according to Chapter 12 of the Texas Penal Code.

Matt Horak of the law firm Matt Horak, Attorney at Law, PLLC is a Houston criminal defense lawyer who represents individuals accused of theft and white collar offenses throughout Harris County, Texas and surrounding areas in Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, Liberty County, Galveston County and Waller County.

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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CreditQ.com Announces New Credit Card Review Features And Other New Features

CreditQ.com – Your Guide To Credit Cards, Loans, Investments
and Everything Between

Newport Beach, CA (PRWEB) July 30, 2011

CreditQ, the new one-stop financial website, announced today that it has expanded its credit card review features. The new features will help visitors find exactly the kind of credit cards they’re looking for. Shoppers can also access a wealth of information about nearly every credit card on the market.

The new information goes beyond that offered by most other credit card websites. CreditQ has put together a comprehensive collection of credit cards in all categories. For example, shoppers can find 12 cards created especially for people with bad credit. By contrast, most credit card review sites only offer three or four choices.

There are instant search features to access specific kinds of cards. Consumers can browse by card type, credit card rewards, card issuer or by credit rating. The cards range from credit cards for travel, gas, and department stores to Pentagon federal credit cards and guaranteed approval cards.

CreditQ offers visitors all the information they could want about every card listed on their website. Within each category, CreditQ gives a comprehensive rundown of the top cards, along with all the features associated with a particular card. Visitors can get APR information, learn whether there’s an annual fee, see if the card can be used for balance transfers and, if so, determine the balance transfer fee. They can discover whether a card offers a rewards program, and the kind of rewards currently being offered.

To learn even more about a card, shoppers can click on the “more information” tab and read in-depth reviews about each card, including a list of pros and cons.

Additional tabs give access to a rundown of the rates and fees associated with a card, its rewards programs and perks, and the credit score an applicant needs to qualify for approval. For those who don’t know their credit score, CreditQ.com gives visitors access to a variety of free credit score and credit report services.

More than just a credit card website, CreditQ offers individuals and businesses a large library of helpful financial resources. Consumers can apply for personal, VA, wedding, holiday and payday cash advance loans. They can get comparison quotes on auto, health, dental, travel and pet insurance. They can access mortgage loan and refinancing information, learn how to invest, read about retirement planning and find money to finance an education.

The website also offers visitors access to 16 handy and free financial calculators. Consumers can find out the cost of a home refinance, determine mortgage affordability, calculate retirement savings and figure out car loan repayments.

Other free services include current bank rates, credit interest rates and a large library of money-related articles written by financial experts covering everything from tips about budgeting and saving to common myths about credit repair.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

Identity Theft Victim, Plagued by Allegedly False and Inaccurate Credit Reporting by FIA Card Services and Bank of America, Fights Back in Los Angeles Courtroom

La Crescenta, California (PRWEB) August 23, 2011

A Los Angeles consumer plagued by alleged false and inaccurate credit reporting by FIA Card Services and Bank of America is fighting back in a Los Angeles courtroom. FIA Card Services is a credit card subsidiary of Bank of America. FIA has sued a Los Angeles resident named Hugh Coleman for allegedly not paying on two FIA credit cards. In a cross-action filed by Mr. Coleman against FIA and Bank of America, Mr. Coleman, a former FBI agent, states that he investigated the matter thoroughly and repeatedly asked FIA for documentation showing that he was obligated for the accounts, but FIA never provided him with these documents. He provided FIA with a police report and an identity theft affidavit, attesting that he is not obligated for these debts and that they were likely the result of identity theft, yet FIA persists in suing him. Mr. Coleman’s cross-complaint for damages against FIA is pending in Van Nuys Superior Court, FIA Card Services v. Coleman, Case No. 11 E 01868. Mr. Coleman is represented by Robert F. Brennan of Brennan, Wiener & Associates in La Crescenta, widely regarded as the leading consumer protection and credit damage law firm in Southern California.

Hugh S. Coleman’s story is all too typical for victims of identity theft with Bank of America credit card accounts.

In his cross-complaint and in documents prepared in connection with his lawsuit against FIA, Mr. Coleman recounts his frustrating tale of trying to resolve his identity theft. On February 18, 2009, Mr. Coleman received a call from a Bank of America representative advising him that he was the primary borrower on two separate lines of credit under the name Freequint Enterprises LLC, an entity he had never before heard of. Coleman knew the accounts did not belong to him so he requested that the bank send him the documents that were used to open the accounts.

According to Mr. Coleman, a short time later B of A responded with a letter advising that it was unable to locate the requested documents. In the ensuing months Coleman persisted in advising B of A that he had no involvement with the accounts. He also asked that B of A stop the harassing phone calls to his home and office, and remove the false, derogatory entries on his credit reports.

As recited in Mr. Coleman’s cross-complaint, his ordeal continued. On July 10, 2009 Coleman spoke to a B of A representative from its Fraud Claims Unit who told him he needed to fill out a B of A Uniform Affidavit for Identity Theft and file a police report, then forward the information to B of A’s Fraud Unit. The representative advised Coleman that upon receipt of these documents B of A would remove the negative credit information.

Coleman did as instructed but did not hear back from B of A. On following up, he was told they never received the documentation. He sent B of A the documents again and again was ignored.

In August of 2009 Coleman states that he received two letters from a B of A Fraud Unit representative advising Coleman that their fraud investigation was complete and that he would not be held liable for any fraudulent transactions, finance charges or fees regarding the two accounts.

In early December of 2009, Coleman was attempting to refinance his home, at which time he learned from his loan broker that B of A was still furnishing negative information from the two fraudulent accounts on his credit.

According to Coleman, he attempted to reach the two B of A Fraud Unit reps he had previously dealt with. He finally reached one of them who denied ever having spoken with Coleman before. When Coleman mentioned that he had taken notes of their conversation, the rep’s recall suddenly improved. However, according to Coleman, the rep proceeded to blame the situation on Coleman, stating that it was his responsibility to safeguard his own credit information. During the call, the B of A rep admitted to Coleman his own frustration, stating that he had been called back from another assignment to reopen 100 previously written off-accounts.

To add insult to injury, in March of 2010 Coleman was served with a lawsuit by FIA Card Services, owned by Bank of America, for failure to pay “sums plus interest” on the fraudulent accounts.

Mr. Coleman, an FBI agent, finds it hard to believe his course of dealings with Bank of America and FIA. “I really feel like I don’t even exist to them,” states Coleman. “The people I have dealt with at Bank of America seem powerless to prevent what has been happening to me over the last couple of years.”

“We all understand that Bank of America is cash-strapped right now,” comments Coleman’s attorney, Robert F. Brennan of Brennan, Wiener & Associates in La Crescenta. “Since they bought Countrywide, Bank of America is struggling. However, trying to balance their books on the backs of identity theft victims is just plain wrong, and Mr. Coleman and I are confident that a jury will agree.”

The matter is currently set for trial in October, 2011.

Contact Information: Robert F. Brennan, Brennan, Wiener & Associates, 3150 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta, Ca. 91214, (818) 249-5291. Mr. Brennan and his firm are the leading consumer protection and credit damage attorneys in Southern California. Mr. Brennan has been selected as a “Southern California Super Lawyer” for six years running, from 2006 through 2011.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.



Reunion.com Selects Vindicia’s ChargeGuard for Outsourced Credit Card Chargeback Management Services

Vindicia logo

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) September 12, 2007

Vindicia, Inc., a leading provider of payment management services for online merchants, has added leading social networking site Reunion.com as a customer for its ChargeGuard™ chargeback management services.

Chargebacks occur when credit card holders contact their bank to dispute a charge. Chargebacks especially impact Card-Not-Present (CNP) e-commerce merchants and can have a costly effect on a merchant’s business. The CyberSource 2007 Annual Online Fraud Report estimates that $ 3 billion in online revenues were lost to online fraud, that chargebacks accounted for approximately half of the fraud losses, and that the time spent handling chargebacks ranged from 30 minutes to 1.8 hours per chargeback.

“With our company’s rapid growth, it becomes even more necessary to closely monitor chargeback rates, keep informed of new payment-related rules and regulations, and understand how they may affect our business,” said Jeffrey Tinsley, Founder and CEO, Reunion.com. “By using Vindicia’s ChargeGuard chargeback management services, we ensure that our credit card chargebacks are promptly and effectively processed, analyzed, and disputed. Vindicia’s expertise in payment management gives us insight on why chargebacks are occurring and provides us with guidance on how to control chargebacks in the future.”

“Controlling chargebacks is a critical issue that faces every online merchant,” said Gene Hoffman, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Vindicia. “We’re pleased to be providing best practices-based chargeback management services to Reunion.com.”

About Reunion.com:

Reunion.com is the leader in helping adults find and reconnect with old friends, relatives, classmates or anyone, as well as keep in touch with everyone they care about. Launched in 2002 by Jeffrey Tinsley, the company has continually introduced novel features and attracted a unique audience that sets it apart from other social networking sites. A privately held company, Reunion.com is based in Los Angeles, California. For more information, please visit http://www.Reunion.com.

About Vindicia:

Vindicia provides payment management services to ecommerce merchants through a recurring/automatic billing platform, outsourced chargeback management, and consulting services. Vindicia’s CashBox™ product lets merchants improve customer retention and maximize profit by enabling rapid implementation of best of breed recurring billing capabilities. Its ChargeGuard™ service allows merchants to control chargebacks and recover lost revenue through chargeback processing, disputing, and prevention. A PCI Service Provider Level 1 company and SAS 70 Type 2 audited, Vindicia is a key payment management resource to many high-visibility digital merchants. For more information about Vindicia, please visit http://www.vindicia.com.

Press Contacts:

Marv Su

Vindicia, Inc.

Phone: 650-522-4493

Email: pr(at)vindicia.com

Teena Touch

Reunion.com

Phone: 310-571-3144 x170

Email: Teena(at)reunion.com

Vindicia, the Vindicia logo, CashBox, and ChargeGuard are trademarks of Vindicia, Inc. All other product or company names are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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Observing The ‘Basics’ To Prevent Fraud Or Misuse Of Credit Card

Vigilance is the key that can prevent identity theft to a very large extent, online businesses that accept credit cards do not have an organized mechanism to check on the credit card numbers used for online payments, and as a result many of the frauds take place on web stores, where merchant accounts can be manipulated.

Processing credit cards online by payment gateways is approximately a 3-minute process, involving a merchant web site and the payment gateway that handles the merchant account, there is no third party involved in the credit card payment system.

If an agency is hired that would screen an online credit card transaction and alert a merchant on any fraudulent representation, internet credit card fraud could drop by about 80 to 90%, this would save the merchants from charge backs plus genuine credit card owners will feel more secure making an online credit card payment.

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Many online stores sell products which have obviously different pricing, ranging from to 00 dollars; different security parameters need to be attached based on the price of the product, the security providing agency will have to monitor to check if the product being ordered by a customer meets the security criteria set by the merchant owner.

And if not, the transaction can be flagged for a manual verification such as calling the customer on the telephone number listed in the billing address and verifying the number available with the credit card company. These verifications will go a long way in safe online payments.

This is just one security feature that can be provided by the 3rd party agency; there are several others steps which can be adopted to secure internet businesses from credit card fraud.

more on credit card fraud protection

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Steps in Avoiding Credit Card Fraud

Credit cards are very useful. They provide a quick, easy and convenient way to make purchases and allow you to defer payment. In someone else’s hands however, what was once convenient can become devastating and dangerous.

Credit card fraud can cause serious problems. Not only can you lose money but your credit can be ruined, your identity stolen, and you can even be charged for crimes you didn’t commit. Keeping your credit card information out of the hands of a thief and preventing credit card fraud should be a major consideration In your everyday life.

There are many things you can do to avoid credit card fraud:

Step #1: Limit the damage of losing your purse or wallet

Losing your purse or wallet can put your entire identity at risk. Chances are you have a great deal of personal information stored in your purse or wallet. Limiting what you carry on your persons will limit what a potential thief can assess.

Do not carry every credit card you own on you at all times. If you will not be using the card don’t keep it with you. If a thief steals your wallet don’t make it easy for them to access all your credit cards.

Step #2: Limit your junk mail

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Junk mail can be a gold mine for a thief. All those credit card offers that come in the mail open a window for a thief to steal your mail and order a credit card that is in your name.

In order to limit this threat avoid giving out your address to companies that do not need it. Specifically request to be removed from mailing lists at your bank or other places where you do business. Also, have your name and number added to the national do not call registry at www.donotcall.gov. This will prevent many phone attempts a gathering information used to send you junk mail.

Step #3: Invest in a paper shredder

When you do receive this kind o junk mail have it shred. Any documents containing personal information should be shred as soon as they are no longer needed. Anything that has credit card information, including statements, needs to be shred when no longer needed.

A paper shredder is a simple, easy way to protect your information, prevent credit card fraud, and prevent identity theft.

Step #4: Use caution when using your credit card

While credit cards make life easier by facilitating payment it is not a good idea to be complacent about using your cards. Particularly on-line, giving your card out on many websites can get you into trouble.

Use payment processing companies instead of using your credit card directly. Sites like paypal.com will allow you to use your credit card without giving out your credit card number.

Step #5: Check your credit report

Doing everything that you can to prevent credit card fraud does not mean that it will never happen to you. The Federal Trade Commission has made it possible for you to check your credit report for free every 12 months. Take advantage of this free look at your report to make sure that you have not become the victim of credit card fraud.

Prevention is better than limiting the damage, but be on the lookout for fraud on your accounts all the same. When you get a copy of your credit report make sure that everything on it is accurate. Credit card fraud will show up as credit cards on your report that are not yours, or charges on your cards that you didn’t initiate.

If you spot fraud contact the credit bureau immediately to dispute the transaction and contact the credit card company to cancel the card.

Credit card fraud is a scary thing. Your personal information and data is compromised and someone out there is living off of your credit. Follow these guidelines to help protect yourself from this potentially devastating type of fraud.



Tips for Businesses to Prevent Credit Card Fraud: Certified Payment Processing Suggests Loss-prevention Techniques

Carrollton, TX (Vocus) April 8, 2010

According to a 2009 study, credit and debit card fraud is a bigger concern for Americans than terrorism, computer virus, H1N1 flu and personal safety. (Source: Unisys Security Index: United States, March 2009) The same anxiety is probably shared by businesses who take credit and debit cards, since the fraud costs them money, time and valuable resources.

Merchants are the front-line of defense against credit card fraud. It may not be possible to totally prevent credit and debit card fraud, but setting up verification procedures can help cut down on potential losses. Staff should be trained regularly about preventing credit card fraud.

Certified Payment Processing, a leading provider of electronic payment equipment for purchases made by debit and credit cards, offers the following tips for businesses taking credit and debit cards:

1. Check the card. Most credit card fraud uses lost, stolen or counterfeited cards, so take a little extra time to examine crucial areas:

Compare signatures. Insist on a photo identification, then compare the name on the card with the additional customer ID.
Expiration Date. It takes just a moment, but make sure the card is still active.
Signature strip. Look for any evidence that it’s been altered. If it’s unreadable or smeared, it could be a forgery or might have been changed. Compare the signature on the card with the one on the additional ID.
Numbers on the card. Check for signs of tampering. Also, match the numbers on the back of the card.

2. Pay attention to the customer. Some fraud could be prevented by concentrating on a few key areas related to the person presenting the card:

Match the ID. There have been documented cases when the name on the card didn’t match the gender of the person presenting the card, but because no one checked, the fraudulent charge was recorded.
Unable to produce additional ID. Be suspicious if the customer has a credit card, but no other form of identification.
Appears nervous or hostile when asked for additional identification.
No wallet or purse. Most people carry their cards in a wallet or purse, so if the customer pulls the card from a pocket, that’s a good reason to check further.
Avoidance. If they hand the clerk a card and walk away, they could be trying to avoid being asked for additional identification.
Watch them sign the receipt. If they have to write very slowly, it could be a signal that they are trying to copy the signature.

3. Suspicious merchandize purchases. Staff should be train to watch for dubious questionable purchases/transactions that might indicate potential fraud:

Someone buying numerous expensive items of the same kind (e.g., four flat-screen TVs). These kind of items can be quickly sold outside the store.
Customers who insist on taking with them products that would normally be delivered, such as large kitchen appliances.
During busy times or at the end of the business day. Those attempting fraud often use the times when clerks are rushed to avoid the standard identification procedures.
Those who hurry in and pick up items very quickly, without apparent thought, should be viewed as suspicious.

4. Telephone/Online Orders: These are times when you cannot see your customer, but you can still implement policies which can help prevent fraud:

Orders are not process if the information is incomplete.
Be cautious with customers who use free e-mail accounts (e.g., Yahoo, MSN).
If the shipping address and the billing address are different, call and verify the order with the customer.
Unusually large orders should be a red flag.
Confirm rush orders or those to be shipped overnight.
Be alert of those who use multiple cards for items shipped to a single address.
International orders.

In addition to working with business to implement the best in preventative practices, merchant services provider can also set up the latest equipment that meets the current PCI security compliance requirements. These new credit card processing machines offer greater security for both the customer and the business.

About Certified Payment Processing

Certified Payment Processing (CPP) is a full-service provider of electronic payment equipment for processing purchases made by debit and credit cards, as well as checks and online purchases, in addition to a range of other specialized merchant services. For nearly 20 years, has helped businesses increase revenue while controlling costs. CPP has two direct sales entities –TransTech Merchant Group and Summit Merchant Solutions and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

More Prevent Credit Card Fraud Press Releases

Credit Cards – Card Fraud

Credit card fraud cases referred to credit reference company Experian have risen by over 66% last year. 6,000 victims of credit card fraud contacted the company in comparison with the 3,500 in 2006.

It is thought that increases in card fraud are caused to an increase in organised crime in the area. Everyone is a potential identity fraud victim, some more so than others. Identity fraud is becoming more common and there are things we can do to prevent ourselves becoming affected.

Londoners are more likely to become victims of fraud than other areas of the UK. Those who rent or live in a shared house are at a greater risk of identity fraud as they move frequently and share communal mail boxes. 36% of identity fraud occurs through forwarding address fraud. The fraudster will forward the post to a drop address and collect the post themselves; gaining all the details they need to gain access to the victim’s accounts.

Regularly checking your credit report will enable you to see if any fraudulent activity has occurred. Simple steps such as shielding your pin when using a cash point, not using cash points that look as though they have been tampered with a being careful of the details you pass over the phone when in public can help prevent you from falling victim to credit card fraud. Thanks to chip and pin machines, when paying for goods your card need not be taken out of your sight. This lowers the chance of having your card “skimmed”. Shredding your receipts and bank statements when you are finished with them is a good way of preventing your information from being stolen after you have disposed of it. It is also advisable to make sure your pin number is not traceable. This means avoiding obvious numbers such as birthdates and addresses.

If you do fall victim to credit card fraud the law states you are not responsible for any fraudulent activity if the original card is still in your possession. This means that your bank should refund any money you may have lost. If the card is lost and stolen and fraudulent activity happens then you are required to pay damages of up to £50 by the Consumer Credit Act and the Banking Code. Chip and Pin was introduced to cut down card fraud after a similar system was introduced in France cutting card crime by 50%. However, it seems as though the system ahs not been as successful as the authorities had hoped. By being aware of the risks you are able to be proactive about making it harder for the fraudsters to target you.

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VerifyFraud.com offers new service to prevent credit card fraud to internet business owners.

(PRWEB) March 15, 2000

Phoenix, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Zannders Internet group, a leading online verification service announced today it’s launch of http://www.Verifyfraud.com verification service.Internet merchants are 100% liable for online credit card fraud. VerifyFraud.com can easily and quicklyreduce the risk and exposure to fraud on any business website. VerifyFraud canverify the shipping address andcontact the true cardholder for any internet business to confirm the validity of the order. This will reduce the time and effort and the amount of chargebacks to prevent fraud on the internet.Visit website at http://www.verifyfraud.comNew system can verify any orders:* Orders Using an Alternate Shipping Address* Express Overnight Request Orders* Above-Average Sales Orders* Suspicious Orders* Any order that you would like verified

©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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Tips to Prevent Credit Card Fraud

Prevention is key to keeping your financial accounts secure. Here are some things you can do to help prevent scammers and thieves from making a mess of your credit and bank accounts.

Safeguard Your Credit Cards

Credit cards, just like driver’s licenses or Social Security Numbers, need to be handled with care. Never allow a clerk to walk away to process a transaction out of your sight. Personally carry your card to the register and wait   until the purchase is completed.
Don’t carry all of your credit cards in your wallet or purse. Choose one or two and leave the rest in a secure place in your home.

Protect Your Account Numbers

The safest purchases are those that you initiate. Never make a purchase from a phone solicitor or an email advertisement, unless you have requested the call or information.
Legitimate looking e-mails that claim that your account has been jeopardized and require immediate action are phishing scams. If you provide the requested personal information, you will be the next victim of identity theft. Legitimate   companies will contact you for your account or personal information; they already have this data on file.
Never carry your account number in your wallet or purse. Don’t use it as identification on your check payment envelope.
After verifying your monthly statement with your purchases, shred them. Keep your credit card receipts until they have been verified and shred them, as well.
Prevent access to the security code on the back of your credit cards. These are used by some merchants to verify that the card is in your possession when you make a purchase by phone or over the Internet. If your card number   and expiration date were stolen, but not the card itself, the thief would not be able to use your card without the code, if it was required.

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Applications and PINs Make You Vulnerable

Credit card solicitations should all be destroyed; they often contain personal information that can cause havoc when they fall into the wrong hands.
Don’t neglect to sign the back of every credit card you receive.
Memorize your personal identification number (PIN).
Be aware of those around you when using an automatic teller machine (ATM). Shield the key pad when entering your PIN.

Monthly Statements / Records

Keep detailed information about all your credit accounts – numbers, expiration dates and contact information.
Watch for authorized, automatic payments on each monthly statement.
Compare all purchases with your account statement upon arrival.
Report any errors to the credit card company immediately.

If you believe your account has been compromised, call the toll-free number on the back of the card or printed on your monthly account statement. Credit card issuers are as interested as you are in preventing theft and fraud.