Stolen credit card lands Elberta man in jail

DAPHNE, Ala. (WALA) - A recent credit card fraud arrest in Daphne highlights a crime that, though on the decline, affects a number of people.

Forty-one-year-old Troy Stewart Morgan of Elberta was arrested Monday for allegedly using a stolen credit card. Daphne police say Morgan stole his uncle's credit card and then went to several ATMs to with drawl money. Morgan is charged with five felony counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

According to statistics from the Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN), a division of the Federal Trade Commission, credit card fraud is on the decline but it still remains second in types of identity theft behind government documents and benefit fraud.

Protecting yourself from credit thieves can be difficult but the CSN offers some best practices to shield yourself from potential fraud.

Do:

• Sign your cards as soon as they arrive.
• Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.
• Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
• Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.
• Void incorrect receipts.
• Destroy carbons.
• Save receipts to compare with billing statements.
• Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.
• Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.
• Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

Don't:

• Lend your card(s) to anyone.
• Leave cards or receipts lying around.
• Sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
• Write your account number on a postcard or the outside of an envelope.
• Give out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable. If you have questions about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection office or Better Business Bureau.

Fox10 News Reporter Matt Barrentine Will be following up on this story and more for you tonight on Fox10 News at 5 p.m.