The First InvestigatorThe first investigator of credit card fraud is you. Regular, frequent surveillance of your accounts can highlight activity you don't recognize before it becomes apparent to creditors and vendors. As your own sleuth you can take the first action to begin tracking the fraudster and stop future abuse of your identity by calling your credit card company's 24-hour hot line. This also limits your liability to $50 after that point, but speed is critical. Often all the fraudulent transactions are completed before the identity theft is discovered and reported.Report and CooperateTheft--up close and personal--like purse-snatching, pick-pocketing, break-in or hold-up, can leave you with one advantage: immediacy. Reporting to police can immediately connect you to a professional fraud investigator. You will sign a statement of theft, under oath, to immediately receive a case number and establish liability limits. Banks and credit card companies have created quick credit cut-off tactics to foil all but the speediest criminals
