How to Prevent a Scam

Okay, I am pretty sure most of you have had at least a credit card or so. You find it convenient to be carried around and purchases can be made easily. But little did you know that a single credit card can actually pose a lot of threat to you. You might or might not have realized but still, I am here to remind you just in case you have been ignorant. Keep these critical bits and pieces of information sacred. Thwart scam for good!

1) Your credit card number

Danger: A thief goes on a spending spree with your account.

Protection: Scrutinize every statement, and report all suspicious charges.

2) Your Social Security Number

Danger: Using your SSN and a bit of ''social engineering'', a crook can take out loans,

and even commit other crimes, in your name.

Protection: Place fraud alerts on your credit reports. Refuse to give your SSN as an ID.

3) Debit card number and PIN

Danger: With hidden devices at purchase or by hacking into retailers' computers,scammers

harvest and drain victim's debit cards.

Protection: Never use your PIN unless you are at a bank ATM. Shopping with your debit?

Say ''credit'' at checkout and sign, or use a signature-required debit card.

4) Bank passwords and log-ins

Danger: Your life savings vanishes in an instant, remotely, and with little trace.

Protection: Never click on a link to your bank that arrives in your e-mail. Visit your bank

online only by typing in the URL.