Credit Card fraud checks?

Be cautious of anybody claiming to be your bank calling you to discuss credit card transactions.

Banks and card issuers do now call card holders if they think their card is being misused, or there are unusual (out of character) payments being made. Clearly if someone is using using your credit card or credit card details without your permission or fraudulently, its in everyone's interest that they contact you and see whether its you using the card. Its not quite the same as someone making an unsolicited sales call.

However, its easy to see how this kind of call could be abused and turned into someone actually requesting security information, which if they already had access to say your address could easily be used to steal your identity and open other accounts or credit cards in your name. Extreme caution advised!

Identity theft is one of the favourite crimes of 2010 according to Government statistics!

they are not usually automated calls, if there is suspected fraud, you will get a call from a real person. If you get these calls, tell them you will ring the bank directly to verify this is legit, then hang up and call the number on the back of your credit card and ask if they have called you regarding a fraudulent transaction. If they say no, then you know it is a scam

I had one before and I'm happy I did as there was once transaction which was not made by me, further down the line, I had to cancel the card, as another was attempted, and they even phoned up the credit card pretending to be me.