What Is Credit Card Fraud?
Credit card fraud impacts thousands of Americans every year. Many criminals use stolen or lost credit cards to commit fraud. On the other hand, others make illegal transactions without even having their victims’ credit cards in their possession. The criminals only require their victims’ basic account or card details to get access to their funds. They do not even require any fraud credit cards to do so.
Credit card fraud can be no less than a nightmare scenario for any business or individual. Fraudsters are constantly evolving their strategies to trap their victims when they least expect it. The only way to mark yourself safe from them is to understand what credit card fraud really is and how it functions. This information will help you defend yourself and avoid becoming a victim yourself. Let us uncover these bits of knowledge, but first, you need to understand this:
What Is Credit Card Fraud?
Credit card fraud is the illegal use of a credit card account to steal money or goods. Your credit card information is not only restricted to your wallet only. These details can also be found in web databases that have online purchase information. If these databases are breached or compromised, your card information might be stolen and used to commit fraud.
How Credit Card Fraud Works
Any business, regardless of what size, will have a huge surface area for credit card theft or even fraud. Dealing with credit card fraud can greatly impact your credit score ranges. So, it is better to know the ways in which it might happen. Here are some of the ways through which it can occur.
Lost Or Stolen Cards
Fraudsters can get your credit cards by either finding them if you lose them or stealing them from your possession. They might not be able to use the card at any point of sale, as the device will ask for the PIN. However, they can use it online to make purchases.
Card-Not-Present Fraud
This sort of fraud does not need the fraudster to have a physical credit card. Rather, they will get access to the basic details, such as the credit card number, the account holder’s name, as well as the expiration date. With such information, they can commit fraudulent activity online, via the phone, or even by mail.
Application Fraud
Instead of stealing existing card details, a criminal might rather apply for a new credit in their victim’s name. They can do this by using the victim’s personal information, including their date of birth, name, address, and social security number. These criminals might even steal supporting documents to authenticate their application. To combat this, you can hire trustworthy credit score monitoring services, i.e., Gifted Financial Services, to monitor your credit. In this way, you can steer clear of any frauds these fraudsters might think of committing.
Counterfeit, Doctored, Or Faked Cards
Devices known as skimmers can unlawfully get credit card details. These machines get information using the magnetic strip of your card, which the fraudsters can then encode into a faked, counterfeited, or even doctored card. It can be difficult to put apart an ATM or a regular card reader and one having a skimmer attached to it. So, if you ever lose your card, make sure to feel its card reader to check if it feels normal and tight.
Account Takeover
After accessing your personal information, a fraudster can contact your credit card company. They can even pretend to be the account holder by giving information such as passwords, card details, or previous purchases. This entire act is known as “Social Engineering.” They will do this to register a change of address and then report the card as stolen or lost to get their hands on a new card sent their way through the mail.
Intercepting Cards In The Mail
If a credit card company sends out a replacement or new card via post, then the fraudster might be able to steal or intercept the package from the account holder’s mailbox. This is why many card issuers use unmarked packaging and letters while sending out cards. If you are facing any of these frauds, then we suggest you contact any credit score services to report the fraud. Gifted Financial Services is the best bet when it comes to getting help against fraud. So, contact these experts right now and let them deal with these issues.
Signs Of Credit Card Fraud
By reading the information given above, you now know how the fraud works. We think it would be wiser for you to know the signs of these frauds to be aware, just in case. So, read on to find more regarding this:
Suspicious Charges
This is the most commonly occurring sign of fraud. Be alert for any changes that seem new to you. No matter how minor, if you do not recognize something, take action against it. Otherwise, you might end up with a bad credit score or worse.
Unknown Merchants
If you notice any charges from merchants that seem out of character for your spending habits or the ones that you do not recognize, it might be a potential sign of fraud.
Payments From Other Locations
Any charges from places that you have not been to might also be a sign that someone out there is using your card. So, press a credit card abuse charge as soon as you can to avoid any further issues.
New Accounts Opened In Your Name
If you get bills or credit cards for accounts that you did not open or notice a new account on your report, it might be a sign of identity theft.
Unusual Correspondences
If you get unsolicited calls from any credit card companies regarding debt, it might be a fraudulent account that someone else opened under your name. Moreover, if you stop getting statements or emails from your card issuer, it can be an indication that a criminal has changed your billing information.
Changes To Personal Details
Any changes to the personal information on your credit card account must warrant a closer look. For instance, a new phone number or billing address on your account or an order for a new card that you did not request.
How To Report Credit Card Fraud To Police
Have you found any of these signs happening to you? Well, it is high time you report it to the higher authorities. Being a victim of credit card fraud, you must contact your credit card issuer immediately. You can proceed as follows:
- Jot down whatever you are dealing with and how you noticed the fraud
- Keep all the documentation that you think will help with the police investigation
- Contact the local police service to file your complaint
- If you think the company has been hacked, contact them immediately
- Keep on checking your credit card statements to ensure that there are no further fraud charges
Summing It All Up!
Credit card fraud can happen to anyone. Therefore, you need to be extra vigilant in order to not fall into the traps of these fraudsters. However, even if you do, thankfully, there are a lot of services that can help you safeguard your accounts. One such service provider is Gifted Financial Services. These experts keep your finances more secure and protect your identity. So, if you ever find yourself in need, contact them and let them handle all the stress on your behalf.