It is an alarming fact that credit card thieves account for 5 cents of every 100 dollars in transactions made through credit cards?  Security features have come a long way since the inception of credit cards.  At the very beginning, there wasn’t any protection for people with credit cards.  If a thief got a hold of a card, that was all that was needed to commit fraud.  Nowadays, however, thieves have less ability to make fraudulent transactions on a card, especially ones which harm the card holder.

These days, credit card companies have adopted a “zero-liability” policy.  This means that the customer isn’t liable for any of the purchases that a thief makes.  If the borrower didn’t authorize the purchase they are not held accountable.  An investigation, which involves the credit card company and the police will ensue, allowing them to find the thieves and leave the consumer without any charges to pay.  No matter what the thief does with a card, the customer is not liable.

Sometimes, thieves will try to gain access to credit card details through the borrower’s email inbox.  This is called phishing, and is usually carried out by sending an email requesting the credit card number.  Customers should be aware that neither Paypal nor credit card companies will ever ask for personal information.

Some websites on the Internet today are fraudulent, being created to make borrowers believe that they are making a purchase which will get a product delivered to their home.  In reality, they can make exorbitant charges to the card and leave the customer with very little in their account at the end of the transaction. Consumer should be awa

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American Express just launched a new cash back credit card, coined the “Blue Cash Everyday℠ Card.”

The credit card comes with no annual fee and no spend minimum, meaning you start earning cash back at the full percentages right off the back.

What you get in the way of cash back with the Blue Cash Everyday Card:

- 3% cash back at supermarkets
– 2% cash back at gas stations
– 2% cash back at department stores
– 1% cash back everywhere else

Rewards dollars can be redeemed once your balance is $25, and can be used for cash, gift cards, statement balances, or other merchandise, such as electronics, clothing, and more.

0% APR for up to 12 Months

The Blue Cash Everyday Card also comes with 0% APR for up to 12 months on purchases, meaning you won’t have to pay any credit card finance charges for the first year.

After that, the variable APR ranges from 17.24% to 21.24%, depending on things like credit score and other borrower attributes.

The card also affords you discounts at places like 1-800-FLOWERS.COM®, Fleming’s® Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Hertz®, and other merchants.

You can see a complete list of partners and offers here.

You can also receive a $25 referral bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Blue Cash Everyday Card.

Final Word

If you use your credit card at supermarkets, gas stations, and department stores often, this could be the card for you.

The categories are fixed, so you won’t have to worry about them rotating in and out, like the rewards programs offered by other card issuers.

And with no annual fee, it’s a great choice for those who want the benefits of American Express without the cost.

Apply here.

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions express

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A South Bend man is a finalist in a contest designed to encourage men to pursue their passions.

Jarrett Haley of South Bend has submitted his idea of expanding his passion project BULL, a magazine devoted to men’s fiction, into an independent publishing house.  He says in a press release that he dreams of producing thoughtful, engaging books that will get men reading again.

Haley is one of the five finalists in the “Wear the Pants  Project” to take home the grand prize of $100,000 to make his dream a reality.  The winner will be chosen based on Facebook votes. Dockers brand of pants is sponsoring the contest.

From Feb. 1  through March 15, men submitted plans, and the Facebook community selected the 50 most inspiring entries. The Read full article…

PlayStation owners in Australia may want to go online to compare credit cards after the New South Wales (NSW) Police fraud squad warned customers to cancel their plastic.

Sony revealed that hackers stole personal data, which may have included credit card details, for up to 77 million people.

Among the details taken were names, addresses, email addresses, birthdates, passwords and logins.

NSW police detective superintendent Col Dyson told the Sydney Morning Herald that with enough information, fraudsters could do almost anything that a legitimate person could.

“Personal or financial information is a valuable commodity and generally these days we find organised groups harvesting information and then selling it to other groups to use,” he warned.

Those affected by the security breach may want to consider taking the opportunity to compare credit cards and opt for a different deal.

This comes after Police Credit Union marketing manager Christie Brock told Your Mortgage that people buying goods online should take care to protect their details.

Have a question about credit cards?

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Starting Wednesday, April 27, Verizon is starting a new Verizon Author Series created to connect bestselling authors with their target audiences—small businesses across the country. The monthly live webinar will take place at the Verizon Small Business Center. Each month, each author will offer advice, tips and insights on what makes a successful small business. First on the agenda is Alan Gregerman, author of Surrounded by Geniuses, this Wednesday, followed by a live tweeting event on Thursday, April 28. Also, a limited number of books will be given away to business owners who interact with the Verizon Small Business team. Check the site for upcoming authors, times and more details.