Protect Against Identity Theft

 

Last weekend I used my MasterCard to make a purchase at a nationally recognized retail chain (who shall remain nameless!)  I swiped my credit card through the POS terminal, signed the receipt, and walked out with the merchandise.  

All Ok, Right?

Wrong!

The cashier did not ask to see my Driver’s License and Credit Card together and did not properly verify my identity.  When accepting credit cards at the point of sale you should follow these simple steps to help protect your business against identity theft and fraudelent charges. 

1)      Always ask for identification, such as a Drivers License.  I am always happy when a merchant asks to see my Drivers License when I make a credit card charge.  Had someone stolen my credit card this request would have stopped them from making a fraudulent charge.

2)      Make sure the name on the Drivers License matches the name on the Credit Card.

3)      Check the effective and expiration dates on the Credit Card to make sure both are current.

These simple verifications will help your credit card processing run seamlessly and hassle free. 

 

Posted in Credit Card Processing Security, Understanding Merchant Services on March 20, 2009 by Andrew