Tips For Fraud Alert

Knowing how to place a fraud alert is very important but there are a few things that will ensure that it does what you intend.

1. Have a good grasp of security details

Your initial requirement is that your credit card or financial account statement is in a bind lock. This means that the card or VISA or MasterCard company will require you to key in a code in order to authenticity. The back of your statement will have a bar that you will know what to look for, and it is typically located at the very bottom section of your statement where there is a listing of your charge details and account number. The good thing is that this section is blank.  Of course you will also want a copy of your original credit card statement with the relevant section highlighted.

2. A degree of care must be used when filing and forwarding credit card applications

Filing a credit card application and allowing it to be forwarded to someone else can leave you with not only an unused credit card that you have no record of but also a credit report that contains forwarding information. Failure to be careful becomes a simple security risk. Also, consider putting your contact number on your card so that if it is lost or stolen by circumstances, you will be able to report it immediately rather than waiting for the result of a charge.

3. Have a valid phone number secure on a secure site

This is for security reasons just like contacting your credit card company. The first piece of advice is to put your telephone number on your card so that if you should lose the card your call can be connected directly to you. The second is, do not use a website that does not secure.

4. Be sure the website has a secure certificate

This is a security measure. It turns down an unverified application because the data being transmitted is too brief so that no personal information can be obtained by anyone in the short term. It also encrypts any personal information that is recorded on our hard drives.

5. Get a copy of your credit card report so that you know where you stand

From all the data that you have provided to the lender your credit line, current and past due balances and line items have been recorded. When looking at your report look for any overdrafts or payments that you might have made that are listed on your credit report.

6. Hold retain accounts

Again these are security measures that you have at your disposal to protect yourself. When you call your bank to change a payment or account, for example, by saying "I would like to switch all of my retain accounts in here so I will be making the payments directly to this account". That is information that the financial institution has and will save having to tax and time on this.

7. Whenever you are asked for identification, insist on copies of your driver's license or military ID

As stated, every time you are asked for identification, you must provide your driver's license and/or your military ID. Most military members and their spouses are happy to provide this personal information when asked. Note that a reference number is also required to make certain that your military status is known.

8. Be sure that the contact information on the website is correct

Has the phone number the company offers on its site been updated? Does it now operate in the same type of company? Are there any other phone numbers listed? Is this a company you would like to do business with? These are questions you can ask directly to the website. If all of the above checks out, then there is a probably a very good chance that this is an establishment you would like to use.  Be leery of any web site that claims it has no phone number or does not list any phone numbers at all.

Credit card protection includes identity theft insurance and credit monitoring.  If you have the means, please take advantage of these features so you can be on your guard against this very serious and possible threat to your financial well-being.  The best way to protect yourself and your financial information is to be aware of the dangers of identity theft and what to do if you are a victim.