Xbox or PC Stolen? Don't Forget to Cancel Your Credit Cards

Credit card information may be in your machine's memory

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

March 17, 2008    

Identity Theft • FTC Proposes Ways to Reduce Identity Theft • "Underground Economy" for Crime Thrives, Report Says • Feds Issue New Identity Theft Recommendations • Identity Theft: One Woman's Story, Eight Months Later • Consumers Cautioned About Voter Registration Scams • Young Adults Seen As Prime Identity Theft Targets • Researchers Find Security Flaws In Online Banking Sites • 'Red Flags Rules' for Identity Theft on the Way • Identity Theft: One Woman's Story • Xbox or PC Stolen? Don't Forget to Cancel Your Credit Cards • Identity Theft a Growth Industry in Texas Border Towns • FTC Warns Consumers About Tax Rebate Scams • Big Banks, Telcos Top Identity Theft List • Identity Theft Tops FTC Complaint List Again • Study Claims Identity Theft 'Continues To Decline' • 650,000 Retail Customers Exposed In Data Breach • Children Becoming Prime Identity Theft Targets • FTC Finds 8 Million Identity Theft Cases • New Jersey Wants Banks to Help Fight Phishing Scams --- • More ...

You walk into your home and make an anguishing discovery – you've been the victim of a burglary. Besides your TV, some jewelry and your PC, the thief got away with your Xbox 360 video game console.

Granted, it's not a good situation, but if you stop after calling the police and your insurance agent, the burglary could get even worse. If you've used your credit card to open an account on Xbox Live, the thief could be downloading games and buying points. Because your credit card is tucked safely in your wallet, you may be none the wiser.

The Belgian gamers' blog Fragland.net has reported just such an occurrence in Canada. It is advising its readers to keep credit card information off their game consoles.

The post raises an important point in this era of e-commerce. Our fictional burglary victim might also be vulnerable to credit card theft when a computer is lost or stolen.

If the owner is a frequent e-commerce customer, at a site such as Amazon.com, he may have a credit card on file for purchases. He may also have checked the box that says "remember me on this computer," so that his user name and password automatically pops up. It's an open invitation for the burglar to go on a shopping spree.

The best advice is to immediately contact your credit card company if a burglar steals your Xbox or PC.

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