| Identity theft and credit card theft is a growing | | | | see how the cardholder reacts. The cardholder's |
| problem. People are more aware today of the need | | | | vulnerability and vigilance will be probed before the |
| to protect your identity online, but we often fail to | | | | thief puts bigger charges through. |
| protect ourselves when using a credit card offline. | | | | What to Do |
| Nowhere are you more likely to have your card | | | | When using "plastic" credit or debit, be sure to check |
| number stolen then when checking into a hotel. | | | | your transaction history regularly. You can do this |
| Of all credit card "hacking" cases reported in 2009 38 | | | | online these days quite easily. This way, you can spot |
| percent happened in a hotel, according to the New | | | | a fraudster's activity very quickly. So log in and |
| York Times. Why is this the case? The fact is, hotels | | | | check, every day if you can. Report even the |
| are like many other small businesses run by humans. | | | | smallest transactions that don't make sense to you. |
| Too often, the lag behind technology. Desktop | | | | Just call the phone number on the back of your card. |
| computers are aging and not replaced on a timely | | | | Don't loan out your card to anyone. This is never a |
| schedule. Software is not patched regularly with | | | | good idea. Don't throw your receipts in the trash. |
| updates to protect against malicious hackers. | | | | Rather put then in your wallet or purse and file them |
| Personnel are hired and then not trained on how to | | | | or shred them when you get home. Never |
| prevent hacks and outright theft. Computer terminals | | | | ever--ever--throw your a card statement in the trash |
| are out in the open where non-authorized employees | | | | without shredding it. Don't leave your card receipts or |
| can access them. | | | | statements lying around your hotel room, home, |
| The NYTimes reports that hotels actually lag behind | | | | office, or car. Shredders can be purchases at an |
| banks and retail merchants in ensuring that | | | | office supply store or a discount retailer like Wal Mart |
| customers' banking account numbers are protected. | | | | for as little as twenty dollars. |
| Moreover, it can take months for hotels/motels to | | | | You can also simply pay cash when staying at a hotel |
| find instances of fraud, and too often they fail to | | | | to avoid the risks of having your account number |
| discover it at all. So, some percentage of the theft | | | | lifted. The problem with paying cash at hotels is that |
| happens on site, at the hotel, and some percentage | | | | often as not they require a substantial security |
| happens online, when a computer hacker breaches | | | | deposit, say $500, to protect themselves against |
| the security system. | | | | theft or damages. Otherwise, they are happy to let |
| When a thief steals personal data, often as not they | | | | you pay for your room in greenbacks. |
| fill first test the card to see if they can slip fraud | | | | So, the next time you are traveling, consider the |
| past. The thief will make several small charges to | | | | risks. |
| validate a card, say charging a fifty cent e-book to | | | | |