MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - The Federal Trade Commission reports that hundreds of thousands of people fall victim to identity theft and credit card fraud each year in America.
In Midland, a woman filed a report with the police department on July 14 alleging that her credit card information had been compromised while at a local gas station.
So on July 20, the Midland Police Department offer our news team some tips to help protect the plastic in your wallet or purse.
- Check your statements regularly, use online banking
- Shop online at secure websites, Ex. Use websites with addresses that begin with "HTTPS" rather than "HTTP"
- Stay alert of where your card and how long it has been out of your hands even when handing it over to be processed for a transaction
- Do not lend your card to friends, overspending from know persons is a common complaint
- Always be observant when at gas stations or bank ATM's and report any irregularities you may notice about a machine
Officials at the Midland PD also tell us if your card is compromised, bring a statement with fraudulent charges to the police station so investigators can request video surveillance from the businesses the card or cards were used at.
Also, remember to immediately notify your bank if false charges are made on your card to prevent any further fraudulent activity.
