How to Protect Your Credit
The best way to protect your credit is to take an active role in
maintaining responsibility for it – spend and make payments wisely, and
never compromise the security of your card or identity.
Minimize Your Risk of Fraud.
Credit Card Fraud is a crime which occurs when someone obtains key
pieces of information such as your Social Security number, your credit
card number, or some other piece of your personal information and uses
them for his or her own gain.
Often victims of fraud are unaware of what has happened until they
notice something's not right: they receive bills for a credit card
account they never opened, their credit report lists unknown debts; a
card billing cycle passes without receiving a statement; or charges
that they didn’t sign for, didn’t authorize, and don’t know anything
about appear on their statement.
Victims are left with the complicated task of restoring their credit
and their good names.
Outsmart the thieves.
Here's how:
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time.
- Guard your mail from theft. Don’t leave mail unattended or unsecured in a mailbox and shred discarded mail that contains personal information.
- Put passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Whenever possible.
- Be protective of your personal information. Be cautious when giving out your credit card number, address, or other personal information. When possible, only share this information when you know you are dealing with a reputable organization.
- Protect your personal information in your home. Tear or shred documents like charge receipts, copies of credit offers and applications, insurance forms, doctor’s statements, discarded bank checks and statements, and expired credit cards before you throw them away.
- Never carry your Social Security card. Leave it in a secure place at home
- Confirm online purchases are secure. Look for clues such as a lock and key at the bottom corner of your browser, a URL that begins https://, or the words Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
- Avoid using your card as ID. Thieves can use this information to assume your identity and open bank accounts, make purchases, obtain cash, and even get a job or apartment. However, some merchants require a credit card as a secondary form of ID. Only use your credit card at recognized and reputable merchants.
Get the big picture on how to protect your credit.
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