Ways to Prevent Credit Card Fraud

According to the Federal Trade Commission, credit card fraud was the most frequent type of fraud reported in 2020. Practising effective credit card safety is the best way to prevent credit card fraud. It's a type of identity theft where your card is used to make unauthorized purchases. Most major credit card issuers offer cardholders zero liability on fraudulent purchases, but it's not fun to go through the resolution process. It's your responsibility to keep an eye out for fraud and immediately report suspicious transactions, as well as ensure your cards aren't lost or stolen. There are several things you can do to prevent becoming a victim of credit card fraud.

Avoid giving out your credit card information

Never give out your credit card or personal information on calls you don't initiate. You should only speak to customer service agents affiliated with the customer service number on the back of your card. Scammers are known to leave messages with fake numbers and request card information. Thieves do pose as credit card issuers and trick cardholders into giving out their card details.

It's important to have your finances organized when tax season comes around. Tax professionals and individual filers alike can use a software program to prepare federal taxes and state tax returns. Not all tax software is the same, as some come with a free file option while others charge an extra fee to file your tax refund. Wealth Rocket provides a comparison of the features and benefits of SimpleTax vs TurboTax. Simple Tax is a free file option that comes with a maximum refund guarantee, advanced search for deductions, and refund optimization for your tax situation.

TurboTax is an Intuit product and the best tax software for Canadian taxpayers filing income tax returns. There is a free version available via mobile app to prepare a simple tax return. The full version of the tax preparation software is a premium service full of extra features and add-ons. Using the right tax program streamlines the filing process and ensures you get the maximum refund. Be sure that you're working with a legitimate program to keep your credit card information safe.

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Keep your cards safe
Your cards should always be kept secure and out of view. Keeping your cards in a wallet or purse close to your body is the best way to ensure they can't be easily snatched in a high-traffic area. Don't keep all of your cards on you at once. It's a good idea to only carry one or two essential cards you'll need for the day and leave your other cards stashed away at home.

Don't keep your card out and visible for longer than necessary. Clever thieves can take a quick picture of your card with their phone and notice your PIN code. Always put your card away as soon as you complete your transaction and double-check that you have it before leaving.

The last thing you want to discover after shopping at your favourite boutique is that your card is missing or compromised. Whether shopping online or in-store, you can find great discounts and promotions on unique women's clothing and accessories. From dresses and skirts to vests and blazers, you can shop boutiques near me offering affordable fashion that will thrill your wardrobe and wallet. Just be sure that your card is with you when you're done.

Create strong passwords, and keep them safe
It's a good idea not to save your credit and payment information online. If you do save your information for the ease of making one-click purchases, make sure to use strong passwords. A combination of upper and lower-case characters, numbers, and symbols makes it difficult for thieves to crack your password. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. Once someone cracks one strong password, they will keep using it to access as many of your accounts as possible. You can use a password manager to handle the task of coming up with unique passwords.

These are some of the best ways to keep your credit cards safe and prevent credit card fraud.