CreditCardFraud

It's easier than ever for con artists to swipe your sensitive financial information -- and then use it to decide if you're a good target for a scam. But the war isn't lost: Consider these easy strategies to protect yourself.

Just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't be robbed. Identity thieves steal the personal information of about 2.4 million deceased Americans each year to apply for credit cards, cell phones and anything else requiring a credit check.

A data breach at a payments processing firm has potentially compromised credit and debit card information from all of the major card brands.

Traditional phishing -- where hackers attempt to acquire personal data from individuals in hopes of defrauding them -- is bad enough. But even more alarming is the rise of a new kind of attack: "spear phishing."

Even as many Americans struggle to make ends meet, scammers are plotting all sorts of sneaky ways to rob them of their money -- and in millions of cases, they succeed. When it comes to these cons, the best offense is a smart defense, so here's an intro course in how to spot the latest scams.

With all the hackers in the headlines, you might be feeling more hesitant to offer up your credit card numbers while shopping online. Virtual credit card numbers offer one possible solution. But don't expect them to be infallible.

Disputing a credit card charge by asking for a "chargeback" can lead to being put on a blacklist that merchants can check for customers who might try to defraud them. Getting off the list costs $99, although the fee is waived if the customer didn't know they were committing "friendly fraud," said...

While paying for something with a credit card is the ultimate in convenience -- you swipe, then sign -- it can be a little too easy for crooks who get their hands on your card to go on a spending spree and rack up big charges. In the U.K., a different type of credit card thwarts would-be thieves....

Fear not Hannaford customers, as long as you act quickly and responsibly, you can recover your financial future. Supermarket chain Hannaford Bros. announced earlier this week that the company had experienced a security breach potentially exposing more than four million credit card numbers, debit...