Do Your Part in Protecting Your Credit Card Information

News from Madrid, Spain tells of 178 people in Europe and the United States being arrested on suspicion of duplicating credit cards in an international scam totaling over $24 million.  Apparently police in fourteen countries were involved in a two year operation to nab these pesky criminals and their so-called credit card cloning labs.  In Spain, over 120,000 stolen card numbers were found along with 5,000 phony cards.  Many of the raids were conducted in Romania, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and the United States.  Several of the arrest suspects are also thought to have committed armed robbery, blackmail, sexual exploitation and money-laundering.

Credit card scams seems to be progressing just as fast as technology these days and protecting your identity along with your credit card information is extremely important.  Gone are the days of leaving your garbage out on the street and trusting your mailman to not read through your mail.  Extra steps now need to be taken in order tor protect yourself from future scam artists and legal battles.

What can you do to prevent your credit card information from being stolen?

1. Do not ‘save’ you credit card information on any website.  It may be easier for you but then it’s also easier for thieves to get it.
2. Keep all your receipts and shred them; your bills as well.  Do not leave any piece of information in your car or outside of your home.
3. Do not give your credit card information to anyone you unless you are willing to prosecute them for theft.
4. Always sign the back of your credit card.  An unsigned card can create thousands in unauthorized purchases.
5. Do not use your credit card as a form of ID.

A lot of identity theft claims come from within your own family.  The sad but true fact is that sometimes, family members are the ones that can do the most damage to your credit and your life because you would least suspect them to steal your identity.  Trust is certainly something that every family member should have with one another but if you find unsuspecting items on your credit report, leave no stone unturned.

Be diligent with your credit card information and you will greatly lessen the chance of becoming a victim to one of these scams. Remember, there is a reason why it is called personal information and not public information so make sure to keep certain 16-digit numbers to yourself.