If you’ve ever been the victim of credit card fraud, then you

know just how traumatic it can be. What’s more, if not detected

early enough, it could leave bad marks on your credit report

that could haunt you for years. The most commonly thought of

credit card fraud is when your wallet or purse is stolen, and

the thief uses your credit cards to make unauthorized

purchases.

But, with the rate on online buying growing at an amazing rate,

another form of credit card fraud—known as misappropriation—is

spreading like wildfire. All that a thief needs to create havoc

on your credit life is your credit card number—not your actual

card.

Here are a few ways that this type of theft can happen:

• One day you get a phone call, and the person on the other end

of the line tells you that they have a special offer—usually

good for only a day or so—and that you simply need to provide

them with your credit card number to make a purchase. The

solution? Don’t ever give out your credit card number to anyone

who calls you. Only provide it if you have called the company to

place an order, and you are positive that it is a

well-established reputable business.

• You are shocked to find that someone has gone through the

bags of trash that you set outdoors for the early morning trash

pick-up. A few days later when you receive your credit card

statement, there are dozens of unauthorized charges. The

solution? Always tear up your credit card receipts and bank

statements before putting them in the trash. Many thieves go

through unguarded trash bags specifically looking for these

papers.

• You go out to eat in a restaurant and pay the bill with your

credit card. On your next credit card statement, you notice

that there are unauthorized charges that started the same day

as your restaurant meal. It turns out that the waiter made an

extra imprint of your card when he rung up your bill, and then

used the number to go shopping. The solution? Many restaurants

have placed their credit card processing centers in plain view

of the customer’s sight to combat this problem. If not, you

could follow the waiter to the charge station, and watch him

throughout the process. It’s also important to make sure that

they know that they are being watched.

So, what are some other measures that you can take to make sure

you aren’t a victim of credit card fraud? Here are a few

suggestions.

• If possible, it’s a good idea to carry your credit cards and

other bank information somewhere other than your wallet or

purse. That way, if a thief nabs it, you will be out only your

cash—not your credit cards.

• It’s also smart to only take with you the credit card that

you intend to use that day—leave the others at home.

• Be sure to have a list in a safe place that lists all of your

credit cards, the numbers and contact information of the issuing

company. That way, if you are unlucky enough to lose them,

you’ll have the information necessary to contact them as soon

as you notice the theft.

• Never sign a blank receipt, and always be sure to cross out

blank lines. For example, if you bought something that didn’t

require a tip, cross out the tip line so nobody can add to it

later.

• If you buying online make sure that you do so via a secure

site.

• If you move, report your new address to your credit card

issuer immediately. Some thieves look for moves, and then watch

the mailbox of the old house, hoping that they can intercept a

credit card statement.

By following the above suggestions, you will greatly reduce

your chances of becoming a victim of credit card fraud!