I spend a lot of time working with companies to protect credit card information, not only to comply with the PCI Data Security Standard, but, more importantly, to maintain your trust as a customer.
This weekend marks the official beginning of the holiday shopping season. By the conclusion of the weekend, 100 million consumers will have made at least one transaction using a credit card, based on research conducted by MasterCard. The influx of credit card activity will reach a peak on Christmas Eve, the "real" busiest shopping day of the year.
Knowing the volume of activity that will be taking place in stores, on phones, and through Internet connections, you can guarantee that a multitude of individuals are preparing for the next few days with the same excitement as your kids are when they put their gift list together.
Knowing that we're all consumers at the end of the day, here are some timely reminders from the American Bankers Association for preventing identity theft:
1. Order copies of your credit report once a year to ensure they are accurate. You can call each of the three national credit-reporting agencies because each may contain different aspects of your credit history, or you can contact the Annual Credit Report Service for one free credit report each year.
2. Keep an eye on your accounts throughout the year by reading your monthly/periodic statements thoroughly.
3. Tear up or shred pre-approved credit offers, receipts and other personal information that link your name to account numbers. Don't leave your ATM or credit card receipt in public trash cans.
4. If your credit card or other bills are more than two weeks late, you should do three things: First, contact the Postal Service to see if someone has forwarded your mail to another address. Second, contact your bank to ask if the statement or card has been mailed. Third, contact the businesses that send you bills.
5. When you pay bills, don't put them in your mailbox with the red flag up. Use a locked mailbox or the post office.
6. Protect your account information. Don't write your personal identification number (PIN) on your ATM or debit card. Don't write your social security number or credit card account number on a check. Cover your hand when you are entering your PIN number at an ATM.
7. Don't carry your Social Security card, passport or birth certificate unless you need it that day. Take all but one or two credit cards out of your wallet, and keep a list at home of your account information and customer service telephone numbers. That way, if your wallet is lost or stolen, you'll only have to notify a few of your creditors and the information will be handy.
8. Never provide personal or credit card information over the phone, unless you initiated the call.
As organizations work to secure their IT infrastructure by automating regulatory compliance and IT Best Practices reporting, make sure you do your part by following these important guidelines...and have a wonderful, secure holiday shopping season.
Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping. - Bo Derek :o)
Posted by: Black Friday | November 05, 2008 at 11:45 PM