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Tips for preventing credit card fraud:
Work with American Express® to prevent credit card fraud by applying the
following tips to your everyday life:
- Never let anyone else use your credit card
- Immediately sign the back of new credit cards
- Always destroy old, expired cards
- Protect your credit cards just as you would cash
- Never write your card number on the outside of an envelope or postcard
- Never write—or allow a merchant to write—your card number
on a check for identification purposes
- When paying bills, only mail checks with your card number on them in envelopes
that aren't see-through
- Tear up pre-approved credit card offers, old checks, and deposit slips
before throwing them away
- Never write your Personal Identification Number (PIN) on your cards
- Never carry your PIN in your wallet or purse
- If you don't plan to leave a tip, draw a line through the "tip" or
blank lines on the charge slip. This will prevent someone else from adding
more to the total.
- Keep copies of your charge slips and returns. Compare these to your statement
when it arrives
- Immediately call the card issuer should an unrecognized charge or charges
appear on one of your statements
- When ordering online, only use "Secure" Web pages (a
Web page is secure if there is a locked padlock in the lower left-hand
corner of your browser)
- Never release your card number, card identification number, PIN, or password
to an unknown party (Note: Credit Card Companies will not request any of
this information if we are calling you—we may only request this information
if you are calling us. Beware of parties contacting you and requesting this
information)
- Safeguard all of your personal information, especially your Social Security
Number (SSN) and date of birth—this information can be used to steal
your identity. If your drivers license number is the same as your SSN, you
may want to request a new license with a different number
- Review your credit bureau reports regularly. This may be the only way
to identify fraudulent activity if you are the victim of identity theft—or
sign up for CreditSecure® from American Express and let us monitor your
credit for you
- Keep a list of all your credit card numbers in case of theft, and notify
each card issuer immediately if theft occurs—or better yet, sign up
for Credit Card RegistrySM, a service from American Express that will handle
all of this for you. Call 1-800-CCR-AMEX ext. 454 to enroll today