Better Business Bureau recommends checking bank statements to avoid credit card scammers

The Better Business Bureau said there are simple things people can do to avoid becoming a victim of credit card fraud.

Two people were charged Thursday in Boone County after police allegedly found more than 200 cloned credit and debit cards inside a truck.

“Obviously, identity theft is a huge problem,” said Michelle Gelba, regional director at the Better Business Bureau. “It’s a crime that keeps rising every year.”

According to the 2017 Identity Fraud Study released by Javelin Study & Research, identity fraud incidents went up 16 percent, affecting 15.4 million people in the U.S. The study found that 32 percent of the incidents were credit card fraud.

In 2016, Missouri cracked the top 10 for the number of identity theft complaints, with 8,292.

Gleba said people can’t always rely on their bank or credit card companies alerting them of potential fraud. She said it’s important to get in the habit of checking bank statement regularly.

“Sometimes, it could be something small, but if it is something that is inaccurate, you need to make sure you dispute that with your credit card company or with your bank account.”

The BBB also recommends shredding personal documents that may contain your personal information, and doing so on a regular basis.

Also, be aware of any skimming devices at the ATM or gas station.

“If something is wobbly, or something just doesn’t appear right, then be weary of things like that,” Gleba said.