Avoiding Credit Card Fraud

Here are a few tips to help protect you from credit and charge card fraud.

• Make sure you sign your cards straight away when you receive them in the post.
• Try not to carry your cards in your wallet, as that is the item most theives will aim for first.
• Make a note of each card with it's account details (probably on a statement too) and expiration date so you can contact your credit card company with the necessary information incase of an emergency.
• Watch what is done with you card during a transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible afterwards.
• Destroy incorrect receipts.
• Keep your receipts, so you can cross check them against your statement when you get it. once you've done this, thoroughly destroy the receipts.
• Always check your statements and bills as they arrive to stay on top of all transaction history.
• Immediately report any questionable transactions to your credit card issuer.
• If you're moving house, notify the card company in advance of your change of address.
• Don't lend your card(s) to anyone, no matter how much you trust them.
• Don't ever leave your cards or receipts lying around.
• Make sure you don't ever sign a receipt without a total already printed on it. When you sign a receipt, be sure to draw a line / scribble through any empty space above the total so nothing can be filled in later.
• Always consider the company you are giving your details to - check them out if necessary, rather than unhappily give your details to a company you are not sure is entirely reputable.

If you realise you've lost your card(s) or if you find they've been stolen, call your card issuer(s) immediately . Most credit card companies have 24 hour free phone numbers to assist you in this situation.