It's also advisable to follow up with a letter, restating all the information. Criminals act quickly and so should consumers. Consumers should not allow merchants to write credit card account numbers on their checks and should not give out card numbers over the phone unless the consumer places the call and expects to be charged for something. Beware of callers claiming to be from a bank asking to verify an account or credit card number. Legitimate banks do not work like this.
Federal law sets liability limits on unauthorized use of credit cards.
Under that law, consumers do not have to pay for any unauthorized charges made after they notify the credit company and the most anyone has to pay before reporting a missing card is fifty dollars per card. Not all credit theft is so blatant. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Social Security numbers are more easily accessed than ever before and criminals are using them to apply for credit under other people's names. Try not to carry documents with your Social Security number on them.