Credit Card fraud is a serious problem and one where the card holder is often to blame. It is not always possible to create a totally secure plan, nevertheless you should take some simple steps to eliminate most of the fraud risks.

To Avoid Credit Card Fraud Do;

• Sign your cards as soon as they arrive

• Think about carrying your plastic in a separate wallet/purse from your cash

• Make sure you keep a copy of your card numbers, expiry dates and telephone number of the issuer (Visa, Mastercard etc)

• Always try to keep an eye on your card during a transaction. This is not always possible in a Restaurant as they normally take your card away but if you're worried you can always go and pay at the counter or bar

• Save ALL receipts and check them off against your monthly statement

• Try and get a credit card where you can manage your details online then you can quickly discover any billing problems

• Make sure you also take the separate receipt from the shop or place of purchase. For example if you buy a TV using your Credit Card you'll normally receive two receipts, one for the card payment and one for the actual goods

• If the shop or restaurant uses the old style carbon type payment slips make sure the carbon is ripped up

• Open and check bills that you receive through the post promptly, if there is a problem then contact the card company straight away

• Be especially wary of paying bills in Chinese Restaurants. For many years this has been a lucrative source of income for the Triads (Chinese Mafia). The customers card is cloned and then used to buy goods/services

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To Avoid Credit Card Fraud Don't;

• Lend your card to anyone

• Leave your cards and/or receipts lying around

• Sign your Card without drawing lines through any spaces on a payment slip where digits can be written in after you have gone - Restaurants are notorious for this usually waiting for you to add a tip AND then the final balance

• Sign a blank receipt

• Give your credit card number over the phone unless YOU initiate the call. There is a well known scam where 'your' bank or credit card company will telephone asking to check your details because of a fraud scare etc - In reality the people behind the phone call are scammers.

• Never fill in your credit card number on any email that you receive unless YOU initiated the email correspondence first, but even then it's often a better idea to make a telephone call

Internet Fraud

Although the stories still surface regarding problems about using your credit card online it has to be taken within the context of just how many transactions are made online each day versus how many problems occur.

Of course there will always be a few difficulties but many experts argue that using your card online is actually safer than using it to buy petrol or pay for a food bill etc. Think about it, when you next pay for a Restaurant bill using your plastic how easy would it be for the waiter to make a copy of your name, number and expiry date and then use it at a later date.

Having said all of that, most if not all online shops also offer a telephone number where you can call to conduct your business. Also many credit cards these days offer a no risk guarantee for internet purchases so if there was some fraud conducted on your card the issuing company will deal with the problem and you'll have no financial obligations.