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Phone Cameras Steal Your Credit InfoBy Ronald Porep |
Volume 4 Issue 39February 2005 |
| You are in the checkout line after shopping in your favorite retail store. As usual, the store is crowded with long lines at the cashier making everyone – including you – extremely impatient. Trying to save a little time, you remove your credit card from your wallet or purse. While you are waiting, you may become a little impatient, and casually glance at your credit card. A person standing next to you, or behind you, appears to be engaged in a cell phone conversation, and you really don't pay much attention. |
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You do find it unusual though, that this person is standing a little close to you while he continues his cell phone conversation but you think this is probably because the line is long, or the area around the checkout counter is busy. You give it no more thought. You just want to make your purchases and be on your way. About a month later your credit card statement arrives in the mail. As all smart consumers do, you look over the bill carefully and, this time, find charges for items and services you never purchased. Who made these charges? How did the charges get on your bill? The man who was behind you in the checkout line on the cellular phone and his colleagues in crime placed the charges on your credit card bill. The man used his cellular telephone, which was also a camera, to take pictures of your credit card as you waved it about and either recorded the pictures in the camera’s memory or emailed them to his cohorts. With some computer enhancement, the pictures showed your name, credit card number, card expiration date and even three or four digit security code – all that the thieves needed to charge purchases to your card. How widespread is this new identity theft? According to a recent study, the use of this type of cell phone by criminals has increased identity theft crimes by as much as 20% in some areas. And, your problems caused by these thieves may not be limited to just having the stolen charges removed from your credit card bill. Really computer savvy and creative identity thieves can use your credit card to obtain other information about you to go as far as buying a car in your name. Ouch! But you do not have to be a victim of credit card identity information theft. Take out your credit card when you are ready to use it. Removing the card early from your purse or wallet does not save you any significant time at the cashier. Hand your credit card face down, covering your signature on the back with the palm of your hand or thumb, to the cashier. Do not sign your receipt where others can easily read it. And, always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. If someone is standing a little too close to you while using a cell phone, it is better to politely ask him or her to kindly allow more space than to become a victim of identity theft. A little prevention can give you a lot of protection in preventing credit card identity information theft. |
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