If you're not concerned about identity theft, you should be. More than 11 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2009, surpassing $50 million in total losses, and these numbers show no signs of slowing down.
One way to protect yourself in the event you should become a victim of identity theft is to always choose credit over debit cards. Why? Well, unlike your credit cards, debit cards provide thieves with direct access to your bank account. If compromised, your bank balance could take an immediate hit and you might never be able to recover your losses.
On the other hand, credit cards aren't linked directly to your bank accounts and most credit issuers also have a zero liability policy for unauthorized charges. So, in the event your card is used on an unauthorized shopping spree, the cash in your bank account will remain safe and sound while you work with the credit card company to report the fraudulent activity.
