Data Breaches Prompting Changes For Credit Cards, Consumers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Security breaches at Target, Home Depot, and Jimmy John's could finally bring some changes to the credit card industry, according to one fraud expert.
It's also bringing "hacking fatigue", according to Governors State University business professor William Kresse. He said he's heard consumers say, in light of the seemingly endless number of retailers who've been hacked, they're going to stop using credit cards for small purchases.
Kresse, whose nickname is "Professor Fraud," said that's advice he supports. That way, when you review your credit card activity online every day - as he recommends - you can sort through charges easily to spot fraudulent ones.
He also suggested taking advantage of free credit reports offered by the three credit bureaus each year, by signing up for a new one every four months.
Kresse said these attacks are motivating the credit card companies to speed up a move to the more secure chip and PIN system, but there are roughly 750 million credit and debit cards in the U.S. alone - more than half of the world's total.
He predicted the switch will happen in less than two years.