Day 5- Protect Yourself Against Credit Card Fraud This Holiday Season

Hi and welcome to Day 5 of my 12 Days Of Christmas series. Americans plan to spend just under $1,000 on gifts and holiday items this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Surveys show most consumers will shop online for holiday gifts and use credit cards to pay for them. About 1 in 5 shoppers (including 38% of millennials) will use “buy now, pay later” services to make purchases instantly and pay for them over time with no interest, a Morning Consult survey found. (1). Credit cards are often the safest payment option. (2). Consider using “virtual cards” or mobile wallets. (3). Be careful with “buy now, pay later” services. (4). Watch out for social media scams. (5). What to do if you are a victim of fraud or identity theft. If you believe you are a victim of fraud, contact one of the major credit reporting Agencies (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) and place a fraud alert in your credit report. Credit Card Do's for Holiday Spending: (1). Make the Most of Your Rewards. (2). If you're traveling during the holidays, book your flight and hotel on a travel rewards card. (3). Get a card with an Intro Bonus. (4). Consider a card with a 0% Intro APR promotion. (5). Use a credit card to track your holiday budget.  (6). Pay off your card as you make purchases. (7). Protect your purchases with extended warranties and purchase protection. (8). Use virtual credit card account numbers when shopping online.  Credit Card Don'ts for Holiday Spending: (1). Don't spend more than you would if you were using cash.  (2). Don't run up your credit card balance. (3). Don't forget to pay your bill. (4). Don't delay repaying on a 0% Intro APR credit card. (5). Don't lose track of your spending. (6). Make sure you check your online account often. (7). Don't enter credit card information online from a public Wi-Fi network. (8). Monitor your credit during the holidays. Please be sure to subscribe and support my Podcast. Your support is greatly appreciated, and you do so for as little as $.99 per month. Go out there and be great, because great is calling you and great is calling me.