How To Keep Your Credit Cards Safe
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Posted: 9:08 PM Apr 24, 2008
How To Keep Your Credit Cards Safe
An illegal spending spree landed a woman from Charleston in jail. Police said Ashley Fouty used a stolen credit card at least 10 different stores. You don't have to be the next victim.
Reporter: Kallie Cart
Email Address: kallie.cart@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- An illegal spending spree landed a woman from Charleston in jail. Police said Ashley Fouty used a stolen credit card at least 10 different stores.

But you don’t have to be a victim of this too. There are some things you can do to keep your cards protected.

Fouty was caught shopping on someone else's dime, but surveillance photos brought her shopping spree to a halt. Though, not before police say she'd racked up nearly $700 in charges all with the swipe of a stolen credit card no ID required.

Charli Fulton with the Attorney General’s Office said, “Everything is geared toward making credit speedily available rather than making sure this is the right person.”

Fulton also said there are no laws requiring stores to ask for identification, even if you ask them.

Lorrie Smith from Charleston said, “Sometimes if I’m in a hurry and they ask for my ID I’m like well it just takes extra time to get a driver's license out.”

Leah Sparks from Charleston said, “I don't mind at least there's someone out there looking out for me.”

But rather than relying on retailers to watch your back, Fulton said there are things you can do to protect yourself, “Credit card companies will allow you to put a pin on your credit card as well so that if you swipe your card in the store and you have a pin it will not allow the charge until you've put in the pin.”

This would make it virtually impossible for your credit card to be used if it ever gets into the wrong hands.

Fouty was still in prison as of Friday, facing fraud charges. She was also wanted for battery. And in 2004, Fouty admitted to faking a robbery at the subway where she worked


Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 9, 2009 at 07:29 AM

MasterCard wants to hear about merchants who break their rules. Send the name and address and an account of what happened to MasterCard WorldWide 2000 Purchase St. Purchase, NY 10577 or call 1-800-300-3069. The merchant's bank will get a stiff letter, ordering it to investigate and bring the offending store into line - or pay a $2,000 fine. You may also report violations online: http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/contactus/merchantviolations.html Visa enforces the same rules as MasterCard. "When we hear about a violation, we ask the bank that signed the merchant to get together with the merchant and see that the practice is stopped," Visa representative states. To report a merchant, send a letter to the bank that that issued your Visa card or call 1-800-VISA-911. American Express also prohibits merchants from asking for IDs. "All a merchant is supposed to do is take an imprint, make sure the signature matches and swipe the card through the terminal, to get authorization."
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Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 9, 2009 at 07:23 AM

CREDIT CARD SIGNATURE IS ALL THE ID NEEDED When you pay for merchandise with a Visa card, MasterCard, or American Express any store that accepts these cards should accept yours too, no questions asked. It's part of the deal that merchants agree to when they become participating members. They must check your signature and the card - electronically or by telephone - to be sure it's valid. Once the answer comes up yes, they can go ahead and charge. They can't ask you for any further identification - not a license plate number, Social Security number, proof of address, phone number or photo ID. Your personal ID isn't needed because Visa, MasterCard, and American Express all guarantee payment on cards that have been properly checked. If the issuer mistakenly authorizes a sale on a bad card, it should make good. MasterCard says that merchants receive instant settlement. The contract MasterCard merchants sign specifically prevents them from asking for personal ID.
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Posted by: To LeRoy on Apr 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM

I see your point. I think that with the average person carrying an ave. of 7-10 credit cards, the risk of stolen identity goes up immensely. It also takes longer to try to cancel all of those cards. Either way, cash or debit, it is "CASH" in my book, versus credit. Credit cards (not meaning debit cards) are for those who want to be normal and in debt. We have paid off all of our cards, and a vehicle loan in the past year. In a few more months we will be able to scream "debt free". We got tired of paying the piper for stuff we never really needed. We want to be weird and debt free (ok, and we are Dave Ramsey freaks, too).
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