The recent story about a Miami man who made off with more than 130 million credit and debit card numbers from late 2006 to early 2008 lead me to re-examine credit card protections and want to offer info on avoiding ID Theft. You really can not protect yourself when a hacker goes into the system of a huge company -- like TJ Maxx or Heartland, as was the case here.
But you can -- and should -- be well informed, so that you know what to look for as you monitor your own credit card statements. Some tips from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse:
1 - Reduce the number of credit and debit cards you carry in your wallet. Fewer cards means less risk for theft or loss.
2 - Monitor account activity frequently. Report evidence of fraud to your financial institution immediately.
3 - Do not use debit cards when shopping online.
Comments