Don't Fall Victim To Credit Card Scams

Credit card scams can be scary, and there are a lot of them out there today. Of course, there have always been credit card scams, but the development of the Internet has made them bigger and also easier to create.

The quality of the credit card scams that are out there have improved as well, and they are more able to cheat consumers who think that they are being careful but get deceived anyway. Usually, these scams are designed to get your credit card number – and PIN if one is needed, as is generally always the case with check cards, and is sometimes the case with getting money from an ATM with a credit card – and then use it somewhere to buy something.

The scammer gets the merchandise and you get the bill. Obviously, you’d like to avoid this. While there is really no way to keep yourself completely safe, there are many things that you can do to help protect yourself.

Internet Credit Card Scams

When people conduct credit card scams over the Internet, the usual way they do it is through email. They send you an email saying that they are from your credit card company, and they say that they are verifying information, or that there is a problem with your account. Then they give you a link to click on to go and correct the problem.

Most credit card scams work this way, and a lot of times the email address looks legitimate. Sometimes the Web site you are taken to when you click the link also looks legitimate. However, these emails are ‘phishing’ emails, and the Web site you go to is a carefully crafted copy of the real one. It’s important to remember:

• Credit card companies don’t send out emails to solve problems
• Credit card companies never ask you to provide your full account number, social security number, or other information to a Web site to verify your identity through an email link
• If it looks suspicious, it is  suspicious
• If you have any questions at all, contact your credit card company directly, rather than clicking an email link. If there is a legitimate problem with your account, you can find this by opening a new Internet browser window, going to your card company’s Web site, and getting to your account from there.

Credit Card Scams In The ‘Real World’

The Internet is not the only place for credit card scams. The real world still has them, as well. The two most popular are attaching a card number capturing machine (they are very small) to the terminal where you swipe your credit card when making a purchase.

Another way to create credit card scams is to stand behind someone making a purchase and take a picture of their card with a camera phone. People can often also record PIN information this way. In short:

• Know who is around you, and don’t let someone you don’t know stand behind you when you are using a credit card
• Pay attention to the machine where you swipe your credit card. The readers are very small, but they do make the terminal bigger
• Don’t leave your credit card unattended, and always look at it when a teller, cashier, waitress or anyone else hands it back to you – sometimes swapping occurs.

Following these tips can keep you and your financial information as safe as possible!