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Credit cards may be a convenient way to spend hard earned money, but they can also make for a convenient way for thieves to steal someone else’s money. Credit card numbers can be stolen without your knowledge. Until you spot a fraudulent charge on your monthly statement, you may have no idea your information has been stolen. Credit cards can be stolen in a variety of ways: through theft of a physical card, via data breaches, by card skimmers—the list goes on. Zero liability protections may prevent you from being financially responsible for fraud, but a credit card theft remains an inconvenience at best and a nightmare at worst.
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How Credit Card Information Gets Stolen
Card information can be stolen in a number of ways, from physical card theft to cybercrime.
Credit Card Theft or Loss
Theft of a physical credit card can happen several ways. Losing a wallet or having a credit card pickpocketed is always a possibility, especially while traveling. A new card can also be stolen from your mailbox before you have an opportunity to get to it. If you lose your credit card or have it stolen, contact the issuer right away to have the card number changed and the card replaced. It’s also possible to place a hold on a credit card if you believe…
