How to Avoid Credit Fraud - By: Melanie Mathis

As more and more consumers today get ensnared by the schemes and machinations of scam artists, many a cardholder looks for helpful information on how they can protect themselves against credit fraud. If you belong to this set of credit- and debit cardholders, then you have stumbled upon an excellent article. In the succeeding paragraphs of this piece, we have enumerated and discussed practical suggestions on how you can avoid being ripped off by fraudsters.

Pointers to Keep in Mind

• Beware of too-good-to-be-true features. Be cautious of “free” offers as well as of seemingly-legitimate websites that sell products at extremely low prices. After all, most of these promotions are associated with the phishing baits employed by fraudsters that lurk in online shopping sites.

• Check the security features of the site before disclosing your personal or credit information. Spend considerable amount of time checking out the security features of the shopping site you wish to use. Look at the URL bar and see if it displays the code “https”, where –s stands for “secure”. Look for other security indicators like the padlock icon, which is usually found either beside the URL bar or at the bottom of the web page. You can also look for the logo of VeriSign, and other organizations that provide accreditation for internet security. By employing these simple steps, you will easily determine if it is safe for you to disclose your personal information, contact details and even your credit or debit card numbers in the online form that you will be required to fill out to complete your transaction.

• Choose strong passwords and PIN codes. Make sure that your card account employs a complex password or code that will be difficult for other people to guess. Avoid using the names, ages, and important dates relevant to your immediate family members, as well as digits that are directly associated with your personal details (mobile phone number, birthday, address, wedding anniversary, etc).

We also encourage you to avoid using the same password or PIN code for other purposes, like for creating your email account or for registering in social networking sites.

• See to it that you type Web addresses correctly. If you wish to view your credit card transactions, or if you plan to purchase an item online, make sure that you type the web address accurately. Keep in mind that a spelling mistake might redirect you to a fake site, where your online security can get compromised.

• Review your credit card bills and bank statements on a regular basis. After all, this tip can help you detect when an unauthorized party has gained illegal access to your lines of credit as well as to your bank information. Moreover, it can help ensure that you qualify for limited liability protection against fraudulent transactions.

• Run background checks on prospective vendors. Before buying an item online, take your time conducting personal investigation on your chosen vendor. Consider if it has accreditation with the federal or state government, and if it has an excellent track record in terms of dealing with online shoppers. Then use the information that you will gather from this activity to decide whether to proceed with your purchase transaction, or to continue looking for more credible online shops.

• Use encrypted connections to transmit confidential data. If you need to transmit sensitive information, like credit card or social security numbers, personal contact details, etc, make sure that you use encrypted connections to protect your privacy and security. After transmitting the information, do not forget to log off the website so that no one else can gain access to your account.

Employ the simple suggestions that we have listed above, and we guarantee that you can prevent yourself from falling into the traps set by online scam artists.

About the Author

Melanie Mathis is a credit analyst and a writer for 8 years. She has been participating in the programs of http://www.newhorizon.org such as their continuous effort in giving out Free Credit Repair and Building Ebook. NHBS also has a list of recommended Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Melanie-Mathis/204231

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