Credit Card Shaving – it sounds like what you would say if you were cutting back on your credit cards, but that’s not what it means. This is the latest credit card scam and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. Isn’t that scary?

Credit Card Shaving Q & A

How do they get your credit card number? They get it through guesswork, not by theft. The thief makes a random list of 16 digit numbers. Then he tries to make purchases online with different combinations. If one works, then he knows he has a legitimate account.

Why is it called “Credit Card Shaving?” The thief literally shaves the raised numbers off of other credit cards (usually cheap gift cards) and glues them onto a new card in the correct order. The card looks legitimate. He can even use his own ID to prove the card is his.

How does he change the magnetic strip? The thief doesn’t need the magnetic strip, he just “scores” or scratches it so it can’t be used in the automated stripe reader. This forces the cashier to manually enter the numbers that are glued to the card.

What can you do about it? Always monitor your accounts. Check statements for unusual purchases. If you can access your accounts online, you can check more often.

Is it time-consuming to monitor your accounts? We treat credit cards like pre-approved micro-loans, or feel they’re safer than carrying cash because they can be canceled if stolen. In reality, the more cards you have, the more work is required to watch over them.