How can consumers help protect themselves from credit card fraud and ID theft?

• Sign all your credit cards as soon as you receive them, and never lend them to anyone.
• Shred all personal and financial information, including bank statements, credit card/ABM receipts, credit card offers, convenience cheques and credit card bills before you recycle them.
• Be careful about sharing or disclosing your personal information. Do not give personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Pay attention to billing cycles and missing credit card statements. If you don't receive a statement, call the bank or credit union that issued your Visa card.
• Carefully check each of your monthly credit card and bank statements and look for unauthorized purchases and withdrawals.
• Take advantage of technologies that help protect your credit card and personal information such as digital signatures, data encryption, and programs like the Verified by the Visa service.
• Minimize the amount of identification and the number of credit cards that you carry in your wallet or purse.
• Report lost or stolen cards immediately to your bank.
• Cancel all inactive credit card accounts.
• Choose difficult passwords. Avoid using ones that are easy to guess such as your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or telephone number.
• Review your credit bureau report annually and immediately question any unknown credit inquiries or unauthorized accounts.
• Be aware of others nearby when entering your Personal Identification Number (PIN) at an ABM. Shield the PIN pad with your free hand.

Source: www.newscanada.com