Some credit card safety tips from the Des Moines Register

We can all use a little help keeping our credit card numbers safe. Not a day goes by, these days, that I don't see a dozen stories on credit card theft and credit card fraud. Today's Des Moines Register printed an article with some really good tips for keeping your credit card information safe this Holiday Season. The article reminds us that credit card criminals don't need your card to charge up a storm. They only need to know the credit card number to make bogus charges, and cash withdrawals from your account. The Register recommends 7 important safeguards:

1. Don't carry credit cards all of the time, just when you are going to use them.
2. Sign your credit cards or put "See ID" on them as soon as you get them.
3. Photocopy your credit cards, front and back, and keep copies in a safe location.
4. Don't let salespeople copy your credit card number when using a check or social security number with your credit card.
5. Do not sign a blank receipt. Draw a line through blank spaces above the total.
6. Only give your credit card number over the telephone if you know the company is real.
7. Notify your credit card providers immediately or in advance of any change in address.


See the full article here.