We are all looking for the best offers on credit cards and opportunities to save, but please watch out for Credit Card Protection Offers and don't be fooled by these programs. The following from the FTC will help you if you are propositoned with a Credit Card Protection Offer that is anything but.
"I got a call from a woman who said I need credit card loss protection insurance. I thought there was a law that limited my liability to $50 for unauthorized charges. But she said the law had changed and that now, people are liable for all unauthorized charges on their account. Is that true?"
Don't buy the pitch - and don't buy the "loss protection" insurance. Telephone scam artists are lying to get people to buy worthless credit card loss protection and insurance programs. If you didn't authorize a charge, don't pay it. Follow your credit card issuer's procedures for disputing charges you haven't authorized. According to the Federal Trade Commission, your liability for unauthorized charges is limited to $50.
The FTC says worthless credit card loss protection offers are popular among fraudulent promoters who are trying to exploit consumers' uncertainty. As a result, the agency is cautioning consumers to avoid doing business with callers who claim that: you're liable for more than $50 in unauthorized charges on your credit card account; you need credit card loss protection because computer hackers can access your credit card number and charge thousands of dollars to your account; a computer bug could make it easy for thieves to place unauthorized charges on your credit card account; and they're from "the security department" and want to activate the protection feature on your credit card.
The FTC advises consumers not to give out personal information - including their credit card or bank account numbers - over the phone or online unless they are familiar with the business that's asking for it. Scam artists can use your personal information to commit fraud, such as identity theft. That's where someone uses some piece of your personal information, such as your credit card account number, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, or birth date, without your knowledge or permission to commit fraud or theft. An all-too-common example is when an identity thief uses your personal information toa credit card account in your name.
It is important that as consumers we all become well educated in all matters of credit card use and knowledgable in what our rights are when dealing with our financial institutions. A little time taken now may save you alot of grief later, as we see by many of the "Questions" that come through, many people have not taken this time. Thank you for reading this article. Please see the other articles on our site to help you.
