It sounds to me like you might alreadly be living in your own little bubble if you haven't heard enough of what's going on around you to make you more aware that your credit card's "all but fifty dollar" protection isn't going to keep you safe from some big-time problems. But hey, you're likely young, don't have a care in the world, and know that you're way ahead of those out to take advantage of you
No, AmEx will not protect me from large scale fraud that you keep ranting on about, but that's not what I expect of AmEx. They will however protect me from fradulent purchases on that card, wether the purchases were made online or not.
And yes, I am quite young. But at 31, I think that takes me past the typical age of being naieve and without a care in the world.
By far the biggest problem with identity theft is that the thieves do not take your card and start ringing up charges on it. Not enough bang for your buck there, and only the small time crooks resort to that sort of thing. The good ones gather as much of your personal info as they can in order to manufacture new ID's for you, such as fake driver's licenses (with your name and their picture), birth certificates, and sometimes SS cards in order to open up as many credit accounts as they can in your name, and sometimes even buy houses or boats (which are then resold very quickly). The "new" you does not live at your address and so it takes a while for the accumulation of fraudulent debt to reach you. When it does, one day you'll receive a call or be visited by a debt collector asking when you plan to begin repaying this large debt that you owe. It will not matter that is wasn't actually the real you that signed for it, or that the signatature is not exactly like yours (who's signature looks like a carbon copy each time they write it?). Where you now find yourself is in a position where some very bad people have opened a few dozen accounts in your name, charged somtimes tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt in your name, and you are the one being asked to pay it back. All the while they are enjoying the fruits of your new job which is clearing your name, while they merrily begin working on their next victim.
OMG, are you Sandra Bullock?!? I absolutely *loved* you in that move "The Net"!!!
If you doubt this, google yourself. You will likely be very surprised to see how much information about yourself is readily available out there. It's only the lowest form of identity thief who resorts to dumpster diving or skimming your card number that you used when you had dinner with the wife or filled up your car last.
I did, and the 11th listing on google shows offroadgeek.com. Holy crap.. that's a domain that I own! Wow, what a revelation.
That's the truth of it. Believe it or not, it's your choice. But do yourself a favor and buy a shredder and use it. Keep your card covered when you insert it into the ATM and never clearly punch in your pin in such a way that someone can capture it on closed circuit tv. Got out to google and type in idenitity theft and read some of the real life horror stories that are happening every day. Don't take my word for it....
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Just because I purchase things online with a credit card doesn't mean that I'm young, naieve, and un-aware of identify theft issues. There are plenty of precautions that one can do... I do have a paper shredder (for shredding mail, receipts, etc.), and I check my credit every 6 months. By doing that, I would know relatively quickly if someone decided to open a credit card under my name.
You blindly leap into the assumption that if you use a credit card to buy something online, you are setting yourself up for identify theft. Now if anyone should live in a bubble, I think you're a perfect candidate. I'm sure you and your ridiculous paranoia will feel completely safe there.
