Credit card identity theft is on the rise, and if you are not careful you could become a victim and lose hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Your identity is your most precious thing, and if someone gets hold of it they can make it look like you have spent vast sums and got yourself into debt. By the time you know the money has been spent, the thieves might have racked up many different credit card debts, as well as other loans and financial products. It pays to know how to prevent identity theft, so here are some tips about how to do just that.

Be careful with mail offers

One of the most common ways that thieves can get hold of information is to intercept or remove from rubbish credit card mail offers. Although many people remember to get rid of bills and other items properly, they forget about these items, as they believe they are junk mail. However, many of them have information about you on them and only require a thief to sign the document and send it back to obtain a credit card. If they get the card before you do then they can spend money in your name. Make sure that you properly shred or dispose of any financial mail, whether you think it is junk mail or not.

Keep all records safe

Apart from destroying unwanted mail, you have to make sure that any letters or records that you want to keep are stored safely. Although many people store their records safely at home, they forget about new records such as bank statements when they are out and about. Many people have their information stolen by leaving a bank statement lying around whilst at work or out somewhere. Make sure this does not happen by keeping all your important documents safe and secure.

Be safe online

Another way that thieves can steal your information is through the Internet. Make sure that you only use your credit card on web sites that you trust, and never give your information to over an email or phone call. Make sure that the page where you enter your details is secure using HTTPS, and try and limit your online credit card use to your home computer rather than in public places.

Check your statements

The trouble with identity theft is that you don’t usually know it has occurred until it is too late. The best way to stop identity theft before it gets out of hand is to regularly check your credit card statements. You also keep all your receipts and compare them with your statement so you will easily be able to see if there is anything out of place. If there is something on your statement that looks wrong or odd, contact your card issuer immediately and they will be able to help you.

You are covered

Although identity theft can be a big problem, if you can prove that you did not buy any items or give up your information, then your card issuer should be able to refund all or part of the money that was taken. If you follow these simple steps then you will be less likely to become a victim of credit card identity theft.

By: Peter Kenny

About the Author:

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juceorbe asked:


Is there a way to know if your identity has been stolen? thank you

Keyla asked:


identity theft?
Okayy My mom has Dsl On AT&T she has our phone and internet on it well we use to live next door and we moved next door plz dont ask, And we swiched our phone my mom has great credit!!

My aunt moved next door shes doesnt have papers and we do well she has bad credit she called and ssaid she wa my mom and made a line up well she always got our mail today my mom got it and she found a letter.
It said she owes $1,000 in another phone line that was never mad they gave her the number and it was my aunts or was. What can my mom do???
And i know if she calls the number what will they do?
PLZ help ASAP cause my mom is giving them till friday to pay and if they dont shes calling the cops can she do that???

Nicole asked:


I have been put on house arrested until my court date the crime they are charging me with is credit card fraud but when my lawyer talked to me he said they have added Identity theft to the 1st charge so now it credit card fraud and identity theft.
How long of a sentence do you get for these two crimes?
Will i skip jail and go to prison?

i mean i’m on house arrest

annoymous0381 asked:


Last night me and some friends went to a karokee bar. I ordered two non-alchoholic pepsis, he ordered two bears. The bar wiatress asked my friend or I for a credit card to hold onto. My friend refused to hand over a credit card as did I. Both of us had plans to pay cash.

Due to identity theft both of us refuse to let our credit cards in the hands of a total stranger. Bar tenders loose credit cards, give credit cards to the wrong person and sometimes steal credit card numbers.

The only credit card my friend had with him was Discover. For me all I had was a discover credit card. The bar waitress said the credit card has to be a visa or mastercard. We both said all we have is cash and a Discover card.

If the bar did take Discover we still would have refused to hand over our cards when we are paying cash.

My friend offerred the bar waitress a $100 bill and she still asked for a credit card. Even though numerous times we explained that we are paying cash and don’t carry Visa or Mastercards.

Finally my friend handed the bar waitress $40 and that was that.

Many people don’t even have credit or debit cards? How are they supposed to go to a bar.

I called the manager and he told me that you can walk up to the bar and pay cash for each drink without leaving a credit card. The manager also told me that you can pay a bar waitress cash right up front for each drink if you don’t want to leave a credit card.

The manager told me their policy is new as of Jnauary 1st 2009. This bar has been around since 1971.

How should me or my friend handle this in the future if we want to go to a bar and not leave a credit card and pay cash.

Peek A Boo asked:


I want to apply for a passport to leave the country for Australia next year for a honeymoon. How does a person go about to see if their identity was stolen? Who do you contact, who do you talk to? Thank you!

Credit card identity theft is simply a category of ID theft, for which your credit card is used as a means for illicit purposes. Usually, CCs are used to perform fraudulent activities such as to withdraw funds from your account without your authorization, purchase goods in your name, and to obtain bank loans and open another CC account, thereby leaving all debts and credits for you to clear. According to several studies, about ten million people are affected as a result of CC identity theft per year. In fact, credit card ID theft or CC fraud has now become one of the serious problems confronted by the US Law agencies.

The technological advancement has brought about revolutionary changes in almost every field. Hence, there is no exception in the case of credit card identity theft. In other words, thieves adopt most advanced options and tools to retrieve your CC details. For instance, scammers use a pocket-sized tool attached with a slot that could easily scan and copy information from your credit card’s magnetic tape, which even includes the security holograms markings. Here starts the plight of poor CC holders, as thieves use this cloned information for unscrupulous purposes. Lost or stolen wallets and purses is perhaps the most common way through which CC identity theft could occur. As per the studies revealed by CC companies, about 50% of ID theft is obtained via stolen wallets.

Aside these, thieves also depend on conventional options to retrieve your credit card information. For instance, CC identity theft may also happen through phone. So if you receive a phone call requesting for your social security card number and credit card number and expiry date, be careful as it may be the first step adopted by thieves to retrieve your sensitive information. A legitimate credit card company never gives you a phone call out of the blue to request for your CC information. Another common way through which your CC information could be stolen is via raiding your mailbox by criminals. In some instance, thieves even search trash to gain your CC and other important information. Hence, check several times before disposing a document or bill into the trash.

Many people become victims of CC ID theft via online, as scammers use high tech viruses as well as Trojans to track and record your critical information. In short, you are at risk to become a victim of ID theft at any moment. Hence, being careful is one of the best ways to reduce the chances of CC identity theft. The installation of the latest anti virus software and the usage of sophisticated wallets like iWallet can help you to prevent identity theft to an extent.

By: Steve Cabouli

About the Author:

Vanishing Act (The Sisterhood)
by Fern Michaels
Amazon Price: $7.99
Customer Review: Vanishing Act fills the bill of being enticing, and funny, with enough suspense and adventure to take you along for a wonderful ride. The old girls still have enough vim, vigor and vitality to keep you more than intrigued. I have read each book at ...

Await Your Reply: A Novel
by Dan Chaon
Amazon Price: $16.50
Customer Review: The vignettes intertwine into a suspenseful novel that touches on the subjects of family, identity theft and reinvention (wouldn't it be crazy if we could start all over as someone else?). The plot is riveting; an enjoyable foray into the undergroun...

How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Personal Privacy,...
by J.J. Luna
Amazon Price: $16.49
Customer Review: What good is a privacy book that exposes lots of what used to be good privacy tactics to the opposition??? Hmmm, has the author sold out the audience? The very same people that buy Your book, the ones that You claim to have been trying to help??? W...

channelmf3D asked:

Read more at invest-money-stocks.com Unveiling the Truth About Identity Theft

SuzieQuteness asked:


My boyfriends step mother ordered a whole bunch of things in his name. Magazines, collectables, and things online. We aren’t in contact with her and we live 3 states away from her. She opened a whole bunch of diffecet acconts in his name and I just called all of the places she ordered from to cancel them. Now I am wondering how to go about filing for fraud or identity theft. If someone has been through this before and knows the person who is doing it or you know how to go about filing for it. Please!!