Protecting Your Credit Card Account Information

If you are a credit card holder, it is important to take steps to ensure your account information is protected. Otherwise, a thief can easily steal your information and use it to make thousands of dollars worth of charges and destroy your credit in the process. Depending on the amount of information the thief manages to gain, he or she may even be able to take out additional credit cards in your name – leaving behind a paper trail that seems impossible to unravel.

In order to protect yourself, you should never allow your credit card to leave your site. Unfortunately, even waiters have been known to scan information when taking credit cards from unsuspecting diners up to the cash register.

When you receive a billing statement, you should also be sure to shred the document before throwing it away. Before doing so, however, check the statement over to make sure there are no charges on the card that you did not authorize.

When you decide to close a credit card account, make sure you dispose of the credit card properly. This means chopping the card up into several pieces in order to prevent having the information stolen. In addition, credit card companies regularly send replacement cards for credit cards that are two to four years old. Make sure to shred the old card before throwing it away. No method is foolproof, but by taking these precautions you significantly reduce your risk of becoming the victim of identity theft.

Beware of Phishing
To Pay or Not to Pay: Is it a Good Idea to Pay Your Taxes with Your Credit Card?
The Financial Dominance of the Credit Card Industry
Keeping Your Credit Card Safe
Traveling With Your Credit Card
A Look at Current Bankruptcy Laws
Fixing Mistakes on Your Credit Report
Flying With Credit Card Airline Miles
Get Stylish with Your Credit Card
Keeping Your Credit Report Clear
Modern Day Vending Machines
Using Pre-Paid Credit Cards for College Students
Making Sense of the Prime Rate
Protecting Your Credit Card Account Information
Reasons to Use a Credit Card Instead of Cash
Rising Minimum Payments: Friend or Foe?
Staying Out of Debt While Using a Credit Card
Pay Your Way Out of Debt with Your Tax Refund
Tips for Shopping Online With a Credit Card
Understanding Airline Miles Credit Cards
Understanding Cash Back Credit Cards
Understanding Prepaid Credit Cards
Understanding Rewards Credit Cards
Understanding Student Credit Cards
What to Look for in a Credit Card
What to Watch Out for in Pre-Paid Credit Cards