Fraud

Saturday morning I logged onto my bank account to check my balance - as soon as I saw my balance panic sunk in.   My account balance was $60 - ummm come again?  If I was back in my college years $60 would be completely normal for me - but I had just deposited two checks and tips.  I started freaking out as I scrolled down the long list of Xbox live and E-Arcade charges - about 30 separate transactions totaling over $800.  Some online gaming freak got my debit card number and proceeded to purchase every flipping Xbox game known to man.  I immediately contacted my credit union who has been AMAZING throughout this whole mess - I called them Saturday morning and had the money back in my account by Sunday morning.  I'm so thankful they were able to reverse the fraudulent charges quickly because the jerk took all my cash.  So besides being without my debit card until I get a new one, all is well.  Morale of the story fraud happens and protect yourself.  Here are some tips from a girl who learned the hard way:

1.  Have as little personal information as possible traveling via snail mail.  Set up paperless billing and online bill pay.  Go to http://www.optoutprescreen.com to prevent credit card offers from being sent to you - these offers contain personal information and put you at risk for identity theft.

2.  Sign up for Mint.com - it is useful for budgeting and tracking finances, they also send you frequent alerts for your checking and credit accounts.  Even better - they have an app for iPhone!  

3.  When using your debit card run it as credit as much as your - that way you don't have to enter your PIN.  

4.  Get a shredder and Guard Your ID Stamp (available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond) to discard of any paperwork with personal information.  The Bargain Blonde mentioned purchasing the Guard Your ID Stamp in one of her posts and I purchased one immediately after this whole debacle.

5.  You are entitled to one free credit report annually - request it and make sure there is no monkey business.

In the event fraud happens you can sign up through one of the three major credit agencies to be placed on a 90 day fraud alert - this alerts them that you have been a victim of fraud and extra precautions are taken to ensure you are contacted personally to matters regarding credit.

I have always been mindful to shred paperwork with personal information and use Paypal when shopping online as much as possible - but the world we live in is not perfect.  Hope this info was helpful!