Identity Theft And The Store Credit Card Application
The Dangers Of A Store Credit Card Application
This holiday season you will probably be overwhelmed with offers to fill out a credit card application at a number of department stores. Most department stores offer a special discount to shoppers who fill out a credit card application and qualify for a line of credit. I strongly urge you to avoid these offers and not fill out a credit card application at the department store. These are the reasons why.
They Want To Know WHAT?!
When you apply for department store credit, you have to fill out an entire credit card application. That credit card application contains all the personal and financial information (including your name, address and social security number) that an identity theft criminal would need to commit identity fraud.
If you can’t pass up on the discount that department stores offer for filling out a credit card application and qualifying for credit, look into other options. You might be able to call their toll-free number and apply for a department store credit card over the phone or if the store has a website you should be able to apply there.
You Just Never Know…
Avoid filling out a credit card application in the department store because you can never be too sure how the information will be disposed of and if it will be shredded properly. The number of employees who might have access to that information is unknown. Also, since the application will probably remain at the cashier’s area for some length of time, identity theft criminals may have the chance to access that information when the worker goes on break or is on the floor assisting other customers.
You want to make sure you enjoy the holiday season this year, and identity theft will certainly put a damper on your holiday festivities. Pass up on the opportunity to apply for store credit by filling out a credit card application in the store because you should always try to avoid increasing your risk of identity theft unnecessarily.