It seems the Morongo Basin cannot go a weekend without a report of someone falling victim to credit card fraud. While the assumption tends to be that older people are those who report the most fraud, in identity theft cases people ages 30-39 reported the most instances of credit card fraud according to Mint. Mint also reports that credit card fraud made up a total of 459,297 reported instances of fraud and identity theft combined in 2020. During the pandemic, the San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Department has also seen an uptick in reports of credit card fraud. Reporter Jef Harmatz brings you tips and tactics for securing your credit cards from ne’er-do-wells.
Credit card fraud is when the information and numbers associated with your credit card are hijacked, either online or in person, and used to make purchases or funnel money. Review your credit card history and purchase log frequently to ensure that all purchases made were your own. When shopping online, avoid unsecured websites or public wi-fi, and never save your credit card information onto a computer. When physically using your card, use payment devices with a “chip reader” and keep an eye out for skimming devices, which could be hastily attached to unattended payment devices like gas pumps or ATMs. If you see charges on your credit card you don’t recognize, immediately call your bank or credit card company, ask for a “freeze” on the card to halt all activity and report your credit card information as stolen.
