Avoid credit card fraud this holiday season

NORRISTOWN - Looking for that perfect Christmas gift?

Purchase a shredder, preferably a cross-cut type, according to Montgomery County Consumer Affairs Director Mary C. Miller.

"Dumpster diving does not stop for the holiday season," said Miller, referring to those who go through another's trash looking for charge card numbers and other personal information that they can use to steal a person's identity.

Actually, there may be more identity theft during the holiday season, with crooks ringing up all sorts of charges with the stolen information because people, who are making more purchases, pay less attention to their credit card bills, said Miller.

Miller recommended that the public save their receipts and then compare them to their bills as they come in and then shred both after the bill is paid.

Starting Dec. 6, said Miller, stores and other merchandisers will only be permitted to print the last five digits of a credit card number on a receipt. Also, no credit card expiration date will be printed on receipts.

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