Millions of innocent people fall victim to credit fraud every year and yet many of us fail to take more care with our credit cards and account details. In this article we will look at the different ways that people commit credit card fraud and how you can identify and avoid them.
Skimming Devices
One of the most common ways criminals steal credit card information is by using a skimming device. A skimming device is attached to the card slot on an ATM and ‘skims’ your card when you insert it into the machine. This can then be used to create a fake credit card linked to your bank account, which criminals might use to make huge purchases and max out your card. It is easy to imagine the chaos this would cause.
It is usually easy enough to spot a skimming device just by looking. If the card slot has a strange looking attachment or looks scratched or damaged, do not use the machine and report it to the bank to which the machine belongs.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of credit card fraud in which scammers pretend to be representatives or agents from real companies in order to gain access to your personal information. The victim may receive an email leading to a convincing spoof website of the victim’s bank site where they log in using their private details. The log in information is stored by the spoof site and the scammers use it to access the victim’s bank account and steal their credit card information and money.
If you come across emails or sites telling you to log into your bank account or enter credit card information, steer clear as it is likely an attempt at credit card fraud.
Banking in Public
You might think it convenient that thanks to Wi-Fi you can get online and access your bank account just about anywhere. But it’s important to be aware of how easy it can be for a hacker to break onto your computer using public Wi-Fi. All the hacker needs is a small device which can pull in every connection by creating a fake Wi-Fi network, and view the credit card information that a user enters to make an online purchase, or even the log in information for the user’s bank account.
When connected to a public network, it really may not be a good idea to log in to your bank account or make any online purchases. Check the network you are connected to, to make sure it matches up with your location are or else you may become victim to credit card fraud.
Keep Your Information Safe
It is important to know how these kinds of criminals work in order to effectively protect yourself from credit card fraud by taking the necessary precautions. Refrain from connecting to unsecured public networks, keep away from suspicious emails and phone calls and regularly check your bank statements to make sure there is no strange activity in your account.
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