If you’ve got a credit card right now, congratulations — you are on your way to a lot of flexibility and control. However, even with all of the different benefits that await you within the world of credit cards, you still need to watch out for the potential pitfalls. Indeed, there are some downsides to credit cards that you need to be aware of. For example, you will need to watch out for credit card fraud, and protect yourself form scams.

One of the first points of fraud that you will need to keep an eye out for are unauthorized payments. This is one of the biggest components of credit card fraud, with millions of people reporting problems with these unauthorized charges. This is a problem that costs the credit card company a lot of money each and every year, but that doesn’t mean that you will have to deal with this problem. The key is to remain vigilant and monitor your account at all times. You might not think that you would be targeted by unsavory individuals, but the reality is that you will need to stay on your guard.

Another point to consider when it comes to credit card fraud is having your card in your possession at all times. Far too often we think that we have our card when we actually left it at home or left it somewhere else. You don’t want to end up having someone steal your physical card and make unauthorized charges.

Thankfully, you don’t have to fight credit card fraud all on your own. Indeed, you will need to keep a close relationship between you and the credit card company. You might think that the credit card company is the enemy, but the reality is that they are there to help you. After all, when you become a victim of fraud they are often the ones that have to repair the damage and get things corrected properly. When you sign up for any credit card it’s important to read the terms and conditions present for that card, including the section on what the credit card company will do in the case of fraud.

Overall, credit card fraud is a reality, but it doesn’t have to be your reality — protect yourself with the tips in this guide today!