• Safeguard your credit account numbers to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.credit card image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
  
  The websites of government agencies and consumer-advocate organizations address consumers' concerns about credit card fraud. The sites provide succinct answers to questions about how credit card fraud occurs and how to avoid it. These sites also are valuable resources if you have questions about what to do if you are a victim of credit card fraud.
  
  

How can I safeguard my credit card account?

• The U.S. Federal Trade Commission urges consumers to avoid credit card fraud by taking steps to safeguard their credit account numbers. That includes not lending credit cards to other people, or leaving receipts from card purchases lying around for others to see. Furthermore, the FTC recommends only giving out a credit account number over the phone to businesses you know are reputable. The FTC presents a scenario in which people can be ripped off by responding to an unsolicited business mailing promising a free trip if they call a long-distance number. The catch is the callers must provide a credit card number to pay for a travel club membership, which later results in unauthorized charges to the callers and no free trip.
  
  

Should I carry all my credit cards with me?

• Keeping track of your credit cards is another important step in avoiding fraud. The FTC recommends keeping your cards separate from your wallet, and carrying them in a business card holder or small pouch instead. The Consumer Action organization's website also recommends not carrying all of your cards with you at one time. If you only carry one or two with you, all of your credit accounts won't be at risk if you become a victim of theft.
  
  

What about eavesdroppers if I'm giving my card number over the phone?

• The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) website warns that you can become a victim of credit card fraud in public places if criminals are eavesdropping on your conversations. For example, they could be listening as you provide a credit card number over the phone to make a hotel reservation or reserve a rental car.
  
  

Is it safe to shop online with a credit card?

• Take more precautions if you shop online by only submitting credit card purchases to retailers that are familiar to you. Consumer Action also advises making sure your browser is in a secure mode before making an online purchase with your credit card. If it is, you typically will see a picture of a small padlock in the bottom right corner of your browser window. The DOJ notes that responding to unsolicited e-mails can lead to credit card fraud if you provide your account numbers and other personal information in your response.
  
  

What should I do if I am a victim of credit card fraud?

• If you become a victim of credit card fraud, the U.S. Secret Service says you should immediately report it to your local police department, and get a copy of the police report for your records. You also should immediately contact the companies that issued the card or cards that were fraudulently used or stolen and have those accounts closed. The situation also should be reported to the fraud divisions of the three major credit bureaus listed on the Secret Service website. Have a statement attached to your credit reports at those bureaus, asking that they contact you to verify any future credit applications.