stungundotcom asked:

Two women who were victims of Credit Card Identity Theft, fraud and new account ID theft speak out. 1of2 www.IDTheftSecurity.com

Sarah Dinkins asked:




However, the main annoyance this product shows is that due to the built in microphone, a loudspeaker, a battery and a voice-recognition chip and though the credit card is of a standard size, it is almost three times thicker than a regular one and a lot heavier. This may be a really drawback and designers are working on improving this.

The Technology

The voice card was designed specifically to prohibit fraud of online transactions. The first voice card has no microphone, instead it has a built-in speaker that gives emits an acoustic ID signal which is received by a computer’s microphone and sent to an online server for processing.

The signal is then verified and after it matches the credit card details, the server establishes that the user is not just entering a credit card number but in fact possesses the actual card. In order to avoid frauds and recording of the beep to replay it later, the ID code changes each time the credit card is used in a pre-ordained sequence that only the server knows.

The new voice version includes the voice password that avoids use if actual credit card theft occurs since it is not easy to reproduce the owner’s exact voice to make the credit card generate the beep. However, many ask themselves what happens if the owner is ill and has problems breathing or throat pain.

Battery Size

Voice recognition is usually used on cell phones by automatic voice dialing. The holder says the name of the person he or she wishes to call and the name is recognized, associated with a phone number and contacted by the phone that dials the number without further intervention of the cell phone holder.

However, the problem is to develop a voice recognition system with its audio circuitry and a suitable battery of a small seize that can work together for a significant period of time. And this seems to be causing huge problems. The consequence of this is the thick size of the prototype and the weight.

Another annoyance is that in order to maximize battery life, the system starts working only when a button on the side of the card is pressed. Only then the holder can utter the password so the card emits the corresponding beep. This seems too complicated for people to get used to and does not make the card at all attractive.

The idea is to enable the system to allow the holder to make up to 10 transactions each day for at least two years without the battery dying. Voice recognition has also been used for phone transaction before which is in turn a lot simpler because the credit card doesn’t have to include the system on it. This new technology is promising, however, it needs to solve the issues explained before and the fact that the costs are yet too high to implement successfully.

Danna Schneider asked:




Credit cards are a huge part of the American way of life today. With the increasingly electronic world of finances and bill paying today, credit cards are almost a necessity for anyone who wants to keep up with the times and enjoy the convenience and ease of this method of payment.

Credit cards have made themselves a necessary “evil” in today’s world. Credit cards offer such ease of use and a convenience unmatched by other forms of payment, but that also comes with abuse by both the cardholders by misusing them, and by thieves who are up to no good that will profit from getting your information off of a card. As a result, there are increasingly more reports of credit card scams today.

These scams can range from identity theft to people hacking into our computers to obtain credit and financial information. In one recent credit card scam, a person calls the home of the credit card owner. Identity thefts may pose as a representative from security department or fraud prevention department of some company, in order that they may get personal information from you.

They claim they have flagged your account for unauthorized purchases and they want to give you a credit on your account. The caller then says he needs your information, verifies your address and name on the account and asks for the 3 numbers on the back of the card. These 3 numbers are the security code that proves that you are in possession of the card.

Within a few days, the caller is fraudulently charging on your account using the security code numbers that you have given them. So, consumer beware. Never give out personal or credit card numbers and information to anyone that calls you and ask for this information. This is not standard procedure for most places of business, unless you arranged this with a company for payment.

The credit card companies won’t call and ask you for this information because they already know it and have it on file. If you encounter this situation, hang up and call the police and the credit card company. Con artists may use a variation of this type of scam as they may have part of the information from your account and then they’re calling you to”verify” the remainder of it so they can fraudulently use your credit card.

There are some unscrupulous scams in the form of guaranteed credit and loans via emails on the internet. Many emails of this nature are simply looking for you to give up your personal information online to them so they can use it for identity theft.

To protect against internet style credit scams, keep your computer safe with updated antivirus software, antispy software, a firewall and an antiphishing toolbar. Phishing, where a criminal sends an email that is supposed to be from a reputable bank is becoming more popular, and you want to make sure you do not respond to these emails or give any personal information to them. The threat of something known as identity theft, which is closely tied to credit card fraud, is so abundant today that many singular companies are offering a guarantee to protect you from it for a monthly or yearly fee.

The best way to protect yourself without resorting to a monthly bill is to know what to beware of. If you lose your wallet or checkbook, or if it is stolen, cancel all credit cards and accounts and report it immediately. Shred all personal documents and information before disposing of it to prevent dumpster diving scams.

People who steal identities are savvy, and you want to make sure you don’t make their job easier by leaving around payment stubs, unused credit card offers and other items with personal information. A paper shredder may even be a good idea. Another scam is a con artist posing as a person with a valid reason to obtain personal information. Unfortunately, identity theft can also be done as the result of an inside job by family members, friends or even a babysitter with access to your personal information.

Means of prevention of identity theft are cancel all inactive accounts, sign your credit cards and don’t give out personal information when using your card.

You can request electronic versions of bills and statements and direct deposits of your payroll checks. I know it’s hard to keep up with sometimes (this is why you should probably limit your number of credit cards), but it is prudent to check your credit card statements every month in order to catch any possibly fraudulent charges or suspicious activity.

Rachel Agheyisi asked:




U.S. law defines identity theft as the misuse or attempted misuse of any identifying information, such as social security number, biometric data, and credit card number, to commit fraud.

Technorati Tags: Credit Card Fraud, Credit Fraud, Government Documents, Social Security Number, Unauthorized Access

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Bernard Pragides asked:




Identity theft comes in many forms, but one of the most common types, and also, one of the most destructive, is credit card fraud. Now, you may think you have protected yourself from credit card fraud, but the reality is, there are so many ways in which an identity theft can steal your details and therefore commit this type of fraud, that you may not have protected yourself against every eventuality.

The first thing you need to think about when considering protecting yourself from credit card fraud, is the ways in which people are able to get hold of your credit cards, or personal information in order to apply for one. The first thing you should watch out for is any problems you may encounter with ATM machines. If you notice anything strange about the way the cash machine is working, do not use it and inform the bank or company that owns the machine. The most common thing that seems to happen, is a small card reader is mounted over the slot that reads the card and can be use for copying it, and also a tiny camera which monitors the pin numbers. This method allows the thief to monitor and collect many different card details and Pin numbers to use in the form of credit card theft. This may also happen for the small machines that you use to pay by card in crooked stores, or by a crooked sales cashier.

For more detailed frauds, these identity thieves need more than just card details. They need address and names, and these can be found by rooting through garbage cans. These details can easily be found on utility bills or bank statements. They can use that information, as well as details that can be found with the electoral roles and other data that is publicly available, to perform costly and intricate forms of credit cards.

Credit card fraud can also be performed in the way of lost mail. Thieves have been known to steal post from mail boxes and every year, the postal companies are reporting more and more lost mail. Important documents such as check books, credit cards, Pin numbers can all be intercepted before they reach the owner of the mailbox.

You should also be aware that thieves also use websites to purchase goods, either by way of credit card fraud, or by just using your personal details. Online auction sites should be carefully monitored, and so should sites that store your personal information for any future purchases.

The only way to be protected against credit card fraud is to be aware. Your documents can be stolen in so many ways, and you need to ensure that you always keep a close eye on your finances. There are certain insurances you can take out to protect you, if you should ever become a victim of credit card fraud, and it is a good idea to check out these options for further reference.

KV asked:


What is the best way to avoid credit card fraud and Identity theft?