Arm Yourself Against Credit Card Theft
The next time you think there’s a fly in your soup, it might behoove you to fish it out yourself and keep your mouth shut. Kathryn Shana'e Perez, a former waitress at the Mugs N Jugs in Port Richey, Florida, is alleged to have used a skimming device while at work to steal information off of the credit cards of some of her unknowing customers. She then passed along the various, applicable deets to her cousin, who manufactured counterfeit cards. She targeted only the diners “who ran her around, made her work real hard.”
Aside from some very basic advice – such as be nice to your server – here are a few select tips for Brentwood residents, to help prevent themselves from falling victim to greedy credit card fraudsters.
Remember: don’t forget!
Sometimes the easiest things are in fact the hardest. With so many distractions bombarding you all the time, it’s easy to black out after paying with plastic and leave the store or restaurant without your card in hand. Make sure your card goes straight back into wallet as soon as the cashier/bartender/waitress/whoever hands it back to you.
Less may not be more, but it is easier.
Cutting down on the amount of cards you carry around on a daily basis can make it so much easier to keep track of things. Also, in the unfortunate event that a thief snags your wallet, the less that you have in there, the better.
Keep track of your mail.
Your mailman (or woman) should bring your credit card statements roughly the same time, every month. Should one not turn up, the scary reality is that it may have been stolen. Consider switching to paperless statements to thwart those who may be looking to take your mail. Go over every last little detail on your statements and give your credit card company a quick call should anything look fishy or unfamiliar. Shred any sensitive paperwork before tossing it out.
Be careful when going online.
Before entering your personal information and credit card numbers on unknown websites, check out the merchant via the Better Business Bureau to reassure yourself that they are indeed legit. Always look for a little padlock icon at the bottom of your browser and an “https” at the beginning of the Web address (not just the trusted old “http”) to make sure the site is secure. When presented with the option for a site to store your credit card information, refuse. The encryption technology protecting transactions can be stronger than the security in place to protect a merchant’s database.
By exhibiting a bit of extra caution with their credit cards, all of Brentwood’s borrowers can breathe much easier.
Comments
(0)
Post a Comment