Dividends for May 2013

Phew!  It has been some time since I last wrote.  Was too busy and just could not find the time to sit down and pen anything.

Anyway, dividends received in the month of May 2013 wasn't too bad.  This was helped by monthly dividend stocks in my holdings such as Armour Residential REIT (ARR) and GAMCO Global Gold and Natural Resources Trust (GGN).  I also received payout from BDCL (a ETN that pays quarterly dividends).  The amounts I received is probably close to $200.  I am not keeping good records and I might have bank in some cheques that were actually sent to me much earlier in April.

From Singapore shares, I have also collected dividends to a neat tune of $500 exactly.  Cool and not bad for a month.

I also bought into Fidelity Asian High Yield Fund through DBS.  It is a unit trust that pays out monthly dividends and I can choose to receive the dividends or reinvest it.  Received around $7 from this unit trust.

That's all for now.

And guess what?  This blog has garnered more than half a million views.  Cool eh?

Avoiding Credit Card Fraud

Using a credit card gives you the opportunity to build your credit profile and increase your purchasing power. While credit cards definitely have some advantages over other methods of payment, they are sometimes susceptible to fraud. If you become the victim of credit card fraud, it can be a particularly frustrating experience. Here are a few things to consider about credit card fraud and how to avoid it.

How it Works

It doesn't take much for someone to try to take advantage of you through credit card fraud. All a thief needs is the information off of your credit card, and then they can start making purchases online.

Another version of credit card fraud occurs when someone gets your personal information and then opens a credit card account in your name. At that point, then the individual can use the new credit card that they get from the credit card provider to make purchases.

Avoiding Fraud

One of the nice things about many Singapore credit cards is that they have anti-fraud features. If someone uses your card to make a fraudulent purchase, then you can call the credit card company and notify them. Many of these cards will simply take off the charge and you won't be responsible for it.

You also have to be careful where you use your card. Never give it to anyone to take out of your sight, such as at a restaurant. You also need to look carefully at any ATM that you put your card into. Some scam artists use a technique called skimming to scan your credit card information once it goes into the ATM. Make sure that there haven't been any modifications to the slot.

Also, you should never email your credit card information to anyone who asks for it. Use a secure order form only.

Check Your Credit Report

If you are concerned with the possibility of someone opening a credit card in your name, it's a good idea to check your credit report regularly. When you get your credit report, you can see what accounts you have open in your name. If anyone has opened an account in your name, you'll be able to see it on your credit report.

How to Avoid the Problem

If you are interested in avoiding this problem altogether, you need to safeguard your information at all times. Don't throw your credit card statements or personal records out in the trash without shredding them. If you are getting your credit card out to make a purchase, make sure that you keep it covered at all times so that no one will be able to see the information off of it or your PIN.

Considerations

Although credit card fraud is definitely a big problem in the world today, you can minimize the chances of any damage by taking a few simple steps. If you take the time to keep your information safe, you'll be at a much lower likelihood of risk in the future. When choosing a credit card, you should also make sure that you pick one that has a zero liability for fraud policy. This way, you can ensure that you're never paying for fraud out of your own pocket.