I was on the phone with my 75-year
old father yesterday. He was telling
me about his concerns regarding
applying for a credit card online.
Naturally he was concerned about
security and protecting his
identity. I thought it might be a
good idea to review some of the
guidelines for online credit card
application that I shared with him.
The internet has made reviewing,
comparing and applying for a credit
card easier than ever before.
However, it's not without its faults
and anyone who is applying should
pay careful attention to the
following check points:
-
Never apply by responding to an
email offer. Email has become a
favorite vehicle for identity
thieves. They've gotten very
good at making their email look
like it is coming from a trusted
institution - they'll use
authentic logos and even similar
URLs but most legitimate
banks/institutions will never
ask you to verify your account
via email. Play it safe and if
an offer looks good, go directly
to a reputable credit card
website or to the source to
apply.
-
Use reputable card comparison
sites. There are any number of
card comparison sites that will
be able to provide you an
overview of the different cards
and their offers. Watch for
signs that the copy is complete
and up-to-date before completing
an application. When you've
found a card that looks good;
reputable sites provide a link
that will transfer you directly
to the card issuer site.
-
Look for signs of security. Read
the "About Us" section of the
websites. Look for certificates
such as "Hacker Safe" that
protects against fraudulent
activity and/or the Verisign
certificate. And, when you are
being transferred to an
application website, make
certain there it is protected
with SSL technology.
