Credit Card Fraud Alert - Save Yourself Pure Hell

If your credit card has been lost or stolen, you need to file a credit card fraud alert. Start by calling your credit card company and getting your card cancelled. They will arrange to send you a new card and also send you the correct forms for filing a fraud alert.

Fill the forms out promptly and get them sent in in a timely manner. The longer you wait the worse the situation can get. Like I said, it doesn't matter if the card was lost or stolen, the result can be the same. If you have only lost your card and someone finds it, they can use it fraudulently and get you in all kinds of trouble and essentially make your life a living hell until you get everything straightened out. If it was stolen, you will have the same problem. Report the loss or theft as soon as you can and get the credit card fraud alert filed. You will be glad you did.

When calling the credit bureaus remember you will only need to inform one of them, the one you report to will contact the other two for you. Filing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus allows them to advise your creditor that you may be a victim of identity theft. If someone then tries to get more credit the credit bureau should contact you to verify that it is you who is doing the asking and not the identity thief.

The initial fraud alert will stay on file for 90 days from the time you file. The 90 day fraud alert is used if you suspect that you may be the victim of identity theft or could become one. So, use this fraud alert if your credit card gets lost or there is a possibility that it was stolen or you suspect some of your mail has been stolen but you really have no proof that any theft has really occurred. 90 days is long enough to ferret out any would be identity thief. Always file a police report, just in case.

The other type of fraud alert is called an Extended Fraud Alert and last for seven years. You file an extended fraud alert in the same manner as the 90 day variety with the difference being the credit bureaus require that you also file an identity theft report. This is where the police report comes in handy as you will need a copy of the police report to file along with the form from the credit bureau.

I had a scare at the beginning of this year. All of a sudden I had stopped receiving my check stubs in the mail and then did not receive my W-2's for taxes. When I went in to the main office of my job and asked about it they gave me the login information to get my check stubs online. That is when I noticed that the address on my check stubs was incorrect and they were going to some place in a whole other state. I filed a police report just in case something ever came of it. Nothing did, though, to my relief.

This just goes to show that you cannot be too careful and although this was not a credit card, if you lose you credit card or it gets stolen, it is very important to file a credit card fraud alert.

Identity Theft And Fraud - Yes It Can Happen To You

Identity theft and fraud are always a concern but during the holiday season it is even more so. Identity thieves absolutely love this time of year. They can steal identities almost at will because people become so complacent and do not try to protect themselves the way they should. Many people suffer from the 'It can't happen to me' syndrome. That is, until it does happen to them.

Then they cannot enjoy the holidays because they have had their identity stolen and have to deal with calling credit card companies and credit bureaus and lawyers and goodness only knows who else to try to fix the problem. It can take years to unravel an identity theft problem. Save yourself a lot of BS and protect yourself right from the get go.

Don't think that it is only credit cards and numbers that can be stolen either. Identity thieves can get your sensitive information by hacking into your computer. Don't think it can't be done. If you can think it up, it probably already has been done. Identity thieves are always looking for new ways to get at sensitive information whether it is going through your trash, your pocketbook, your mail or your computer, no area of your life is untouchable and you should very well keep that in mind.

Everything you do is traceable and subject to identity theft and fraud. There is someone out there who knows you better than you do and frankly if you do not protect yourself from identity theft, yours will be stolen someday, I can guarantee it.

I can hear it now, "Yeah, but my credit is in the dumps. No one in their right mind would want to steal my identity, they could never get anywhere with it." Well, that very well may be but, would it surprise you to know that your identity may have already been stolen? Illegal aliens come into this country and buy 'new identities' and then are able to get a driver's license, a new social security card and credit cards. Where do you think they get these 'new identities'? Someone stole yours!

As long as these illegals continue to live under the radar, pay their bills on time and don't get greedy you will probably never know your identity is being used by someone else. Don't kid yourself, nothing is private anymore.

There are all kinds of scams out there. Never respond to an email that asks for your sensitive information. Any company out there worth their salt will not ask for your sensitive information in an email. The only people who will ask for your sensitive information in an email are the ones who are up to no good and will send your credit rating straight down the tubes.

So when you are shopping online and you have to enter your credit card information make sure the sites you are on are secure and don't give out your information or make it easy for identity theft and fraud to take place.

Identity Theft - Credit Card Fraud Knowledge Is Your Weapon

Do you know what information is important to protect so you do not become a victim of identity theft credit card fraud? I guess the first answer is obvious, your credit card information. Your statements come in the mail right?

So what you want to do is get to your mailbox as soon as the mail carrier delivers, if possible. Believe it or not there are people out there who will steal mail from your mailbox to get your information. Yup, I'm not kidding they will go to any lengths to get someone's information and use it for their own benefit. Unfortunately it is to your detriment.

Learning how to prevent identity theft credit card fraud in the first place can and will save you a lot of time, effort and money in the long run. If your identity does get stolen the first thing you need to do is contact all the credit card companies that you hold a card with and get a fraud alert put on them or cancel them all together and have the card companies send you new ones. Go over your statements and dispute any unknown charges you find. You are not responsible for any charges not made by you.

Next, call the credit bureaus and file fraud alerts with them. I think that if you just contact one they will let the other two know there is an alert filed and the proper steps will be taken by the other two as well. Have them send you a copy of your credit report so you can see what's been going on with your credit and immediately dispute any and all unknown accounts. If you keep up to date with your credit report then you can head off any potential problems before they become big problems.

So what other information is high risk for theft? Your social security number is a big one, bank account information and any PINs or passwords to these accounts. Do not keep PINs or passwords to your cards or accounts anywhere near the card or other account information.

Make it as hard for someone to steal your identity as possible. Do not keep your social security card in your wallet. Store it safely at home where you know where it is in case you need it. Otherwise just memorize the number. Keep things as simple as possible then you will not have to worry.

Do not throw out important sensitive documents like bank statements in your trash. Like I said thieves will go to any lengths to get your information and going through your trash is no exception. Disgusting, I know but they do. So do yourself a favor and buy a crosscut shredder and shred every piece of paper that has sensitive information on it. I do not care if it is just your phone number, shred it.

Do not forget about the internet. The internet has made identity theft so much easier these days. Hackers can and will do anything they can to get your information. Do not use any unsecure sites for shopping or give out any information like your social security number or credit card number unless you can verify that the site you are on is secure. Identity theft, credit card fraud is more prevalent during the holiday season so be extra careful when you are out there in the trenches doing your holiday shopping.