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There are two main risks against which credit cards need protection. There is identity theft where a fraudster may try to use an individual’s credit card details to gain wrongful advantages using both the holder’s identity and credit facility. Another case is where a fraudster simply uses fraudulent means to access and withdraw money from a holder’s credit account.

The first category of fraudsters may alter identity of the card holder and use the identity to start new lives after committing crimes or to use that new identity to commit crimes. It is possible for a fraudster with a holder’s correct identity information to use the holder’s card to purchase goods online and resell them for cash. Credit cards are safe and convenient but a lot of care is required to ensure these remains so or else it has potential loopholes which can be disastrous.

It is highly recommended that a credit card is signed at the back. This enables a merchant to verify the signature of whoever is signing the invoice with the invoice on the card. This still may be easy for serious fraudsters who quickly learn how to forge many signatures. It has been found useful to indicate CID besides the signature to enable a merchant insist on seeing the holder’s ID to verify it is the right one.

Credit cards are not meant to be exposed to the public. It is important to keep a close eye on the credit card even when using it to procure goods and services. Credit cards can be swiped on card readers by those targeting to use their identity for other purposes. By swiping them through a card reader, the identity information may be retrieved for reproduction and use.

It is recommended never to use a credit card on an insecure website. It makes it easy for a fraudster to capture the credit card information to procure something online and resell for cash while the holder gets the bill. It is advisable to only carry credit cards intended for use. Carrying many credit cards may easily lead to losing any or all of them. It is also possible for someone just checking the wallet to pick a credit card and it might take some time before the holder discovers and takes appropriate decision to stop its misuse.

It is advisable never to give information about a credit card on phone assuming no one is paying attention. Some one may pick useful information and try to steal the card for wrongful uses.