Don't Become a Victim: 9 Ways to Avoid Credit Card Fraud

How to protect yourself against identity theft.

122613-national-credit-card-hacked-computer-shopping-bills-paying-buying-money.jpg

1 / 9

Don't Become A Victim: 9 Ways to Avoid Credit Card Fraud

Photo By Photo: Fuse/Getty Images

122613-national-credit-card-hacked-computer-shopping-bills-paying-buying-money.jpg

2 / 9

Fraud Watch

Tick, Tock - You have a tight deadline that needs to be met, but instead of working you’re doing everything else in order to avoid completing the inevitable. Regardless of how hard you try to zero in on the task at hand or wrap your mind around the current project that needs to be completed, it never fails — procrastination always kicks in. Luckily, it's fairly easy to overcome, especially if you put your mind to it. Keep reading. By Dontaira Terrell  (Photo: Sean De Burca/Corbis)

3 / 9

Monitor Accounts Regularly 

What Are They? - Prepaid debit cards are typically used by people who don't want, or can't qualify for a traditional banking account. Individuals add money to their prepaid cards, and because the cards are usually tied to payment networks like Visa, MasterCard or American Express, those people can use them for day-to-day spending. People also can have paychecks directly deposited to the cards, which allow money to be added over and over. In 2003, American consumers put less than $1 billion on prepaid cards. By 2012, that amount ballooned to $65 billion. By the end of 2014, the CFPB expects consumers to put nearly $100 billion on prepaid cards. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

4 / 9

Carry Only What’s Necessary

145062018|x-default

5 / 9

Keep Your Accounts Secure

ADVERTISEMENT
052014-national-texting-911-cell-phone-call-serious.jpg

6 / 9

Be Cautious of Giving Out Personal Information

42-55105227|x-default

7 / 9

Delete, Delete, Delete!

Finalize Your Receipts - Leaving the tip line blank is a big no-no! Always draw a line through it, especially if you don’t intend to leave a tip on your card. You don’t want to risk having miscellaneous charges unknowingly added. (Photo: RK Studio/Blend Images/Corbis)

8 / 9

Finalize Your Receipts

/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/08/National/081211-national-usps.jpg

9 / 9

Always Fill Out a Change of Address Form

Photo By JGI/Jamie Grill/GettyImages