Buyer Beware: Increased Credit Card Theft During Holidays

By Stephen Mazeika

It’s finally here. The hectic period between the chaotic initial Thanksgiving sales through the new year of increased shopping and spending is upon us.

Although this is normally a joyous time of giving, receiving and good times for all, there is one drawback to this festive time of year. Authorities are predicting an increase of identity and credit car thefts this holiday season.

Experts Recommend “See ID” Method

One anti-crime measure that many consumers have been implementing is the “See ID” method, which is used when people write this phrase instead of a signature on the back of their cards. This is not always going to work as an inevitable percentage of clerks would miss the message, but at least some of them would notice it and follow through by double checking a photo ID.

Look For Safety Signs During Online Purchases

Online shopping has become more popular throughout the years, and is undoubtedly the most convenient medium of sale for consumers. However, with this comes a new world for credit card criminals to steal information and fraud naive consumers. Here are a few tips from the experts:

1. Check site URL and make sure it says “https”, which indicates that the website is secure

2. Click the security lock on the URL line and it will show the source of the certificate which should be the vendor’s name (eBay, Apple, etc.) if it is secure.

Simple Reminders

As always, consumers should be reminded to be alert and aware of their balances. Debbi Dyal from Tyndall Federal Credit Union stated in support of this idea, “During the holidays make sure you’re looking at your account balances to see if there is anything unusual going on.”

She recommends canceling a card immediately if any suspicion arises or anything happens to the card, and also to let your company know if you plan on doing any traveling during the holidays so they will refrain from blocking your card. Another good tip is to keep a list of credit card company phone numbers on you at all times, just so you can establish immediate contact with them and cancel your card before any damage can be done.