And even more suggestions from Internet ScamBusters subscribers about credit card fraud prevention
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Below are suggestions #16 through #20 that we received from our Internet ScamBusters subscribers on credit card fraud prevention. (Click here if you haven't yet read the others, starting with credit card fraud prevention suggestions 1 to 3.)
Credit Card Fraud Prevention Email #16:
One more comment on signing credit cards. My son was in Thailand recently and
presented his credit card at a restaurant. He had "See I.D. in the signature
area. The restaurant would not accept the card until he signed SEE I.D.!! True
story!!
Len
Credit Card Fraud Prevention Email #17:
As a Crime Prevention Specialist with the [major metropolitan] Police Department,
I couldn't agree with you more on your advice to always sign your credit card
as soon as you receive it. With the easy availability of high quality counterfeit
IDs, and the casual attention that many people pay when they do ask for ID,
the suggestion that you write "Ask for ID" on the back of your card
is only of marginal use.
The absolutely worst thing you can do is to leave it blank. As easy as it may
be for a criminal to forge your signature, it's even easier for the scammer
to simply sign your name on the card in his or her own handwriting! Now, when
they sign the credit slip, they don't even have to try forging a signature.
- Tim
Credit Card Fraud Prevention Email
#18:
More on #5.
Ok, so all of the CC companies want you to sign your cards.
What neither they nor you explain is why. What is the theory? How should it
work to protect me? Why is it better than See ID?
Other than taking the word of the big CC companies (some of whom have blown
it with me) why should we do this? If they want your signature on the CC so
badly, why don't they have a better way of putting it on there? That little
strip is almost a joke, it is too small for a good copy of my signature, and
it doesn't hold ink very well so the signature rubs off.
I think this is a very interesting subject, mainly because there are so many
ideas of how to proceed. However, the idea that we should do it just because
the CC companies say so is way to simplistic an answer. To paraphrase mothers
everywhere. If the CC company fraud departments were all jumping off of a bridge,
would you jump off too?
Hope this helps, Mike
Credit Card Fraud Prevention Email #19:
am i missing something on this id theft problem? if i am worried about credit
card fraud why can't i simply inform all the credit bureaus not to ok my credit
on any new accounts. if i want to open a new account i would simply notify the
credit bureaus. securely of course. the same idea should work with my credit
cards. i tell them what limits to put on any charges. maybe 50 dollar limit.
if i want to charge more i would have to notify the credit card company. securely
of course. where is the problem? this would be an opt in or opt out of course.
fred
Credit Card Fraud Prevention Email #20:
First of all, let me thank you for putting out this fine publication! The information
you present is so useful and helpful, and I have actually encouraged several
of my friends (the ones who always send me email hoaxes that I don't fall for)
to join.
I just wanted to make one comment regarding ways to protect yourself from credit
card fraud. You mention on your website that CitiBank now provides single-use
card numbers for internet shopping.
I just thought I would point out that
Discover has already been doing this for years. Their product is a program called
Discover DeskShop and it's free to DiscoverCard holders. It generates a single-use
card number for use in shopping online and has worked well for me for many years.
The only problem is that it doesn't work with Mozilla or Netscape, only Internet
Explorer, and that some sites do not accept Discover. But Discover does have
a single-use card number product, and I thought I would mention this to you.
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
~Rebecca S. faithful reader
P.S. Thanks also for debunking that "Gas Boycott" hoax! I get those
from time to time and they are very annoying! Now I have something to say to
the folks who are forwarding them to me.
Click here if you haven't yet read our main article on credit
card fraud prevention. Or check out this article on credit
card fraud protection and identity fraud -- a new spin.
