How to Avoid Online Theft of Your Visa or Credit Cards

A Credit Article Contributed by Augusta Wilson

What is Credit Card Theft? Can Someone Steal My Visa Number Online?

If you frequently use your Visa or other credit card to purchase services or items online, you may be at risk of credit card fraud. While most websites offer secure online ordering, occasionally identity thieves can get hold of your visa card details. How does this happen? Sadly, while many sites encrypt your information, there are many hackers out there who are able to crack systems, as fast as new technologies emerge.

Thieves can take your credit card number, and then use the number- and all of your personal details- to make online purchases. One such scam out of the former Soviet Union was simple, that the thieves got away with millions of dollars, before they were caught. This is how it operated: A company out of Moscow hacked the site of a leading online bookseller, stealing numerous credit card details. Each month, the hackers would charge a paltry fee on each account, like $10

00, which would generally go unnoticed by the card holder. However, if these thieves charge enough people, they can make a lot of money.

So, how do hackers get people's Visa numbers, or other credit card details? The answer is simple. Hackers take advantage of security holes in certain software platforms, Internet Explorer. In one case, over 35,000 credit card numbers were stolen from an online music site, and then posted on a website. Fortunately, the FBI managed to shut the site down, before any more damage could be done.

How Can I Avoid Having My Visa or Other Credit Card Numbers Stolen Online?

The best way to prevent having your Visa number stolen is to avoid online credit card purchases, as much as possible. You can use your Visa or Mastercard credit cards in your favorite retail stores, or, if you use your cards to pay your bills, you can do so via the telephone. Many utility companies offer automated telephone credit card payments services, which can be a great time saver.

Some systems for securely store your payment information for future use- all you have to do is dial in and answer your security questions. As a last resort, you can avoid credit card fraud by resorting to utilizing an old stand-by: Cash. This is probably the best option; it will help prevent you from being ripped off, and help you to better manage your finances, as you won't be tempted into the 'buy now, pay later' mentality.

What to Do If You Suspect That Your Visa or Mastercard Credit Card Has Been Stolen

You've discovered some suspicious activity on your credit card statement- what should you do? The first thing that you need to do is to notify your credit card company, so that they can cancel the card. Most credit card companies have round the clock customer service, and special phone numbers, just to report suspect activity. More importantly, however, many types of credit cards offer 0% liability on unauthorized purchases. So, if you do suspect that unauthorized purchases have been made on your account, you shouldn't be held responsible.

A little common sense and some financial planning should prevent you from falling victim to credit card theft, but remember, keep an eye on your spending!