Which of the following is the biggest threat to your credit card security?
a) Shopping online with a credit card
b) Shopping in a real store with your credit card
c) Ordering something over the phone with your credit card
The answer may surprise you. It’s b – shopping in a real store with a credit card. Despite all the controversy and publicity surrounding internet phishing and identity theft, shopping online is a relatively safe process. Credit card fraudsters are far more likely to get your credit card numbers and ID information by hacking into a bank or credit card company computer than they are to hack into an online store’s server.
The truth is that there are some dangers to using credit cards in ANY situation – and there are ways to safeguard your information and security no matter where you shop with your credit card.
When shopping online
Only shop reputable sites. If a shopping web site has been around for a while, it’s a pretty good bet that they’re legitimate. Always type the name of a site into your browser address bar rather than clicking on a link in your email. That way you’ll...