Will your credit card become unreadable if it’s exposed to magnets? In a previous story, we said yes, but many of you begged to differ. Seeing that, we took the challenge of clearing things up once and for all. The result: With the help of a junkyard magnet, a garden–variety refrigerator magnet and a professor [...]

Fraud protection can prevent your from becoming a victim. Many people use their credit cards with very little thought about how someone could scam them or steal their identity. Don’t be one of them. Instead, read the following tips to learn how you can keep your credit information secret and stop criminals before they ruin [...]

Eric Bourassa is the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group’s (MASSPIRG) Consumer Advocate. MASSPIRG is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization with 50,000 members across the state. MASSPIRG works to promote consumer protection, environmental preservation, and good government. Eric recently answered a few questions on identity theft and how to prevent identity theft for WannaKnow [...]

It’s not easy to randomly generate fake Visa card numbers that correspond to active credit cards with available balances, but it is a fraudulent practice that is most often accomplished with the help of computer programs. It is one thing to create a counterfeit Visa credit card account number, but it is another to create [...]

Credit card comparison, especially for the first time credit user, can be a daunting task. Like any other financial decision, it requires research and planning to make the best move. In this article, we’ll narrow the focus on some of the most important points to review during a credit card comparison. Identify Your Needs Some [...]

Credit Protection Since 1968 When borrowing money via credit cards became popular in the late 1960s, the United States government passed some laws providing people credit protection that had not previously existed. These credit protection laws were essential because they provided credit holders with rights and security. The original laws were designed to help potential [...]

Most people think they only need identity theft protection from people trying to obtaining credit card information, but scam artists intent on stealing identities for financial gain prey on other areas of our lives, too. Identities Can Be Snagged in Many Ways By the end of 2006, most business that handle credit card transactions will [...]

Privacy policies are the consumers’ bill of rights for how their information is protected by credit card companies. Too often, however, consumers aren’t aware of what their card’s policy is, or how they can request even greater privacy to safeguard their personal information. Parts of Privacy Policies When most consumers compare credit cards, examine interest [...]

Protecting your credit card numbers is more important now than ever. In this information age, the use of credit cards is convenient not only for the cardholder, but also for more unsavory individuals. This article outlines some basic tips that should keep others from picking your electronic pocket. Retain Your Receipts If you’ve ever left [...]

Every year more people are using debit cards instead of cash or checks. Three years of studies by the National Retail Federation indicate a steady rise in their popularity. The primary reasons offered for this change were: Convenience of not carrying cash Benefit of not incurring debt Protection against online identity theft A way of [...]

Shopping on the Internet requires users to choose the best passwords to protect their credit card information. A password protects your personal financial information and other personal data. Choosing the best passwords can ensure that all of your online activities remain private. Tips for Choosing the Best Passwords The password you create must be easy [...]

Identity theft seems like something from an old crime movie, but thousands of Americans are experiencing the real-life horror of this every year. Although it may be difficult to completely protect yourself from this crime, there are things you can do to shield yourself. What’s the Big Deal? Identity theft is usually more than someone [...]