Press Coverage — Consumer Security

Shoppers Urged to Use Caution with Credit Card Purchases

As online shopping continues to grow and payment fraud schemes become increasingly sophisticated, cybersecurity experts are urging consumers across the Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park, and greater North Carolina region to exercise extreme caution when making credit card purchases. Petronella Technology Group founder Craig Petronella shares expert advice on protecting your financial information from criminals who are constantly developing new methods to steal credit card data, commit identity theft, and drain bank accounts.

Consumer Security Fraud Prevention Credit Card Safety Identity Protection
The Growing Danger

Credit Card Fraud Has Reached Epidemic Proportions

Credit card fraud and payment data theft have escalated to unprecedented levels, affecting millions of consumers and costing businesses billions of dollars annually across the United States. In the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area and throughout North Carolina, consumers face an increasingly dangerous world of fraud schemes designed to capture their credit card numbers, personal information, and financial credentials. From sophisticated online skimming attacks that steal payment data directly from e-commerce websites to physical card skimmers installed on ATMs and gas station payment terminals, the threat vectors are diverse and constantly evolving.

The holiday shopping season and major retail events create particularly dangerous periods for consumers, as the massive volume of transactions provides cover for fraudulent activity and the urgency of time-limited deals causes shoppers to lower their security guard. Criminals exploit this seasonal vulnerability by creating convincing fake retail websites, launching phishing campaigns disguised as shipping notifications and order confirmations, and deploying malware-infected advertisements on social media platforms that target consumers who are actively searching for deals. For residents of the Triangle region who rely heavily on online shopping, these threats represent a clear and present danger to their financial security.

Perhaps most concerning is the fact that many consumers remain unaware of just how easily their credit card information can be stolen and how quickly criminals can exploit it. A single compromised credit card number can be used for fraudulent purchases within minutes of being stolen, and the personal information associated with that card, including names, addresses, and phone numbers, can be used for broader identity theft campaigns that cause damage lasting months or even years. The convenience of modern digital payments has created an enormous attack surface that criminals are exploiting with increasing sophistication and relentless determination to extract financial value from unsuspecting victims.

Expert Advice From PTG

Craig Petronella's Guide to Safe Shopping Practices

In media interviews addressing credit card fraud and consumer cybersecurity, Petronella Technology Group founder Craig Petronella provided comprehensive guidance for shoppers across the Raleigh, Durham, and Research Triangle region on how to protect themselves from payment fraud and identity theft. Drawing on more than 22 years of experience protecting businesses and their customers from cyber threats, Craig emphasized that consumer security requires a combination of awareness, technology, and disciplined habits that together create a strong defensive posture against fraud.

Craig's first and most emphatic recommendation was for consumers to monitor their credit card and bank statements regularly and set up transaction alerts on every financial account. Many consumers do not discover fraudulent charges until they receive their monthly statement, by which time the criminal has had weeks to make additional purchases or escalate the fraud into full identity theft. By enabling real-time transaction notifications through their bank or credit card company's mobile application, consumers can detect unauthorized charges within minutes and immediately contact their financial institution to freeze the account and dispute the charges before further damage occurs.

Craig also stressed the critical importance of using credit cards rather than debit cards for purchases, particularly online transactions. Credit cards provide significantly stronger fraud protection under federal law, limiting consumer liability to fifty dollars for unauthorized charges and, in practice, most credit card companies offer zero liability policies. Debit cards, by contrast, provide direct access to checking account funds and offer weaker legal protections, meaning that consumers may face a lengthy dispute process while their actual money remains missing from their account. This distinction is especially important for larger purchases and online transactions where the risk of fraud is elevated.

For online shopping specifically, Craig recommended that consumers look for HTTPS encryption in the website address, avoid making purchases while connected to public WiFi networks, use virtual credit card numbers or digital wallet services that tokenize payment information, and be extremely skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true. He noted that criminals frequently create convincing replicas of popular retail websites with prices significantly below market value, specifically to lure bargain-hunting consumers into entering their credit card information on fraudulent sites. If a deal seems unrealistically good, it almost certainly is, and entering payment information on that site will likely result in fraud rather than savings.

Protection Strategies

Essential Tips for Protecting Your Financial Data

1

Enable Real-Time Transaction Alerts

Configure your credit card company and bank to send immediate push notifications or text messages for every transaction processed on your accounts. This simple step transforms your phone into a real-time fraud detection system. If you receive a notification for a purchase you did not make, you can immediately call your financial institution to report the fraud, freeze the account, and prevent additional unauthorized charges. Most major credit card companies and banks offer free transaction alerting through their mobile applications. Craig Petronella recommends setting alerts for every transaction amount, not just large purchases, because criminals often test stolen cards with small transactions before attempting larger fraudulent charges.

2

Use Virtual Card Numbers and Digital Wallets

Many credit card companies now offer virtual card number services that generate unique, temporary card numbers for individual online transactions. These virtual numbers are linked to your real account but cannot be reused, meaning that even if a retailer's database is breached, the stolen card number is worthless to criminals. Similarly, digital wallet services like Apple Pay and Google Pay use tokenization technology to replace your actual card number with a unique digital token for each transaction, providing an additional layer of protection. PTG recommends that consumers in the Raleigh-Durham area and everywhere else make use of these technologies whenever possible to minimize the amount of sensitive payment data exposed during transactions.

3

Avoid Public WiFi for Financial Transactions

Public WiFi networks at coffee shops, airports, hotels, and other locations are inherently insecure and should never be used for online shopping, banking, or any transaction involving sensitive financial information. Criminals can easily set up rogue WiFi hotspots that mimic legitimate networks, intercepting all data transmitted by connected devices including credit card numbers, passwords, and personal information. If you must make a purchase while away from your secure home or office network, use your cellular data connection instead, or employ a reputable virtual private network (VPN) service to encrypt your traffic. Craig Petronella warns that this is one of the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities, particularly in busy retail areas around Raleigh, Durham, and the Triangle region during shopping seasons.

4

Verify Website Legitimacy Before Purchasing

Before entering any payment information on a website, verify that the site is legitimate and secure. Check that the URL begins with HTTPS and displays a padlock icon indicating an encrypted connection. Examine the web address carefully for subtle misspellings or character substitutions that indicate a fraudulent site designed to impersonate a legitimate retailer. Search for the company's reputation on independent review sites and check with the Better Business Bureau before making purchases from unfamiliar online retailers. Craig Petronella notes that criminals invest significant effort in creating convincing fake websites that are nearly indistinguishable from legitimate retailers, and that consumers in the Triangle area and nationwide must develop the habit of verifying site authenticity before every transaction.

5

Use Strong, Unique Passwords for Every Account

Many credit card fraud incidents begin with compromised online accounts at retail websites where consumers have stored their payment information. When criminals gain access to these accounts through password breaches or credential stuffing attacks, they can access saved credit card information and make unauthorized purchases. PTG recommends using a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for every online account, ensuring that a breach at one retailer does not compromise your accounts at other sites. Enable multi-factor authentication wherever it is available, particularly for financial accounts and major retail accounts where payment information is stored. This layered approach to account security significantly reduces the risk of payment fraud originating from compromised credentials.

6

Monitor Credit Reports and Freeze Credit When Not in Use

Regularly monitoring your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, allows you to detect unauthorized accounts or inquiries that may indicate identity theft resulting from stolen credit card information. Federal law entitles every consumer to a free credit report from each bureau annually. Craig Petronella also strongly recommends that consumers place a credit freeze with each bureau, which prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name even if they have obtained your personal information. A credit freeze is free to place and remove, and you can temporarily lift it whenever you legitimately need to apply for credit. This is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools available to consumers for protecting against the downstream consequences of credit card fraud and payment data theft.

The Fraud Landscape

Credit Card Fraud By the Numbers

$12B+
Annual US Credit Card Fraud Losses
65%
Of Americans Have Been Fraud Victims
22+
Years PTG Has Protected Businesses
2,500+
Companies Served With zero breaches among clients following our security program

"I watched Craig Petronella's segment on the local news about credit card safety and immediately implemented his recommendations. I enabled transaction alerts on all my accounts, set up a credit freeze, and started using virtual card numbers for online purchases. Two weeks later, I received an alert for a small charge I did not recognize and was able to report it immediately before the criminals could make additional fraudulent purchases. Craig's practical advice saved me from what could have become a much more serious situation. Every consumer in the Raleigh-Durham area should be following these recommendations."

— Consumer and PTG Media Viewer, Triangle Area Resident

Related Resources

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Why Trust Petronella Technology Group

Protecting Financial Data for 22+ Years

Petronella Technology Group's expertise in payment security and consumer data protection extends far beyond the tips shared in media appearances. For more than 22 years, PTG has been responsible for securing the payment processing environments, customer databases, and financial systems of businesses across the Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park, and greater North Carolina region. This hands-on experience protecting real payment data for real businesses gives Craig Petronella a perspective on consumer credit card security that few other experts can match. When he advises shoppers to take specific precautions, that advice is informed by decades of seeing firsthand how criminals steal financial data and what defenses actually work to stop them.

PTG's strong security track record for clients on our managed program across more than 2,500 client engagements over 22 years means that the payment data and personal information entrusted to PTG-managed environments has never been compromised. This operational excellence translates directly into the credibility of PTG's consumer security advice. Craig Petronella does not offer theoretical recommendations based on industry reports. He shares practical guidance based on the same security principles and technologies that have kept PTG's clients' data safe for over two decades. That level of proven expertise is what makes PTG's media commentary on consumer security topics so valuable to viewers and readers across the Triangle and beyond.

For businesses that process credit card payments, PTG provides comprehensive PCI-DSS compliance consulting, payment environment security assessments, and managed security services that protect customer payment data from theft and fraud. By helping businesses secure their payment infrastructure, PTG protects not only the businesses themselves but also the thousands of consumers who trust those businesses with their credit card information. This dual focus on both business and consumer security makes PTG uniquely qualified to address the payment fraud epidemic from every angle and to provide the media with expert commentary that resonates with both professional and consumer audiences in North Carolina.

Frequently Asked Questions

Credit Card Safety FAQ

What should I do immediately if I suspect credit card fraud?
If you suspect that your credit card information has been compromised, take immediate action to minimize damage. First, contact your credit card company or bank to report the suspicious activity and request that the card be frozen or canceled immediately. Second, review your recent transaction history carefully to identify all unauthorized charges and dispute them formally with your financial institution. Third, change passwords on any online accounts where the compromised card was stored as a payment method. Fourth, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to prevent criminals from opening new accounts in your name using the stolen information.
Is it safe to store credit card information on retail websites?
Storing credit card information on retail websites is inherently risky because it creates an additional target for criminals who breach those retailers' databases. Craig Petronella recommends minimizing the number of websites where you store payment information and instead using virtual card numbers or digital wallet services that tokenize your payment data. If you do store card information on a retail site, ensure that the account is protected with a strong, unique password and multi-factor authentication. Regularly review which sites have your card on file and remove it from any accounts you no longer actively use.
Are credit cards safer than debit cards for purchases?
Yes, significantly. Credit cards provide substantially stronger fraud protection than debit cards under federal law. The Fair Credit Billing Act limits consumer liability for unauthorized credit card charges to fifty dollars, and most credit card companies voluntarily offer complete zero liability policies. Debit cards, governed by the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, offer weaker protections and longer resolution timelines, and fraudulent charges come directly from your checking account balance while the dispute is being investigated. PTG strongly recommends using credit cards instead of debit cards for all purchases, particularly online transactions, to take advantage of these superior protections.
How do criminals steal credit card information online?
Criminals use numerous techniques to steal credit card data online. Common methods include phishing emails that direct victims to fake websites designed to capture payment information, web skimming malware (also called Magecart attacks) that injects malicious code into legitimate e-commerce sites to steal card data during checkout, data breaches at major retailers that expose stored payment records, man-in-the-middle attacks on unsecured WiFi networks that intercept data in transit, and malware infections on consumer devices that capture keystrokes or screen data during online transactions. PTG's expert advice addresses all of these vectors through a combination of consumer awareness and technological protections.
What is a credit freeze and how does it protect me?
A credit freeze is a security measure that restricts access to your credit report, preventing creditors from viewing it and therefore preventing anyone, including criminals, from opening new credit accounts in your name. It is free to place and remove at each of the three major credit bureaus. A credit freeze does not affect your credit score, prevent you from using existing accounts, or prevent you from checking your own credit report. You can temporarily lift the freeze whenever you legitimately need to apply for credit. Craig Petronella recommends credit freezes as one of the most effective tools available for preventing the downstream consequences of credit card fraud and identity theft.
How can I tell if a website is safe for making purchases?
Look for several indicators of website security before making any purchase. The URL should begin with HTTPS and display a padlock icon in the browser address bar, indicating an encrypted connection. Verify the exact spelling of the website address to ensure it is not a lookalike domain created by criminals. Look for a physical address, phone number, and clear return policy on the site. Search for independent reviews of the retailer. Be wary of sites offering prices dramatically below market value, sites with poor grammar or design quality, or sites that only accept unusual payment methods. If anything seems suspicious, do not enter your payment information.
What is card skimming and how can I avoid it?
Card skimming involves physical devices that criminals attach to legitimate card readers at ATMs, gas station pumps, and other payment terminals to capture credit card data when consumers swipe or insert their cards. To protect yourself, inspect card readers before use, looking for loose components, unusual attachments, or anything that appears to have been added to the original device. Use contactless tap-to-pay when available, as it does not transmit your actual card number. Choose ATMs inside bank branches rather than standalone machines in less secure locations. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent hidden cameras from recording it.
Should I use a VPN when shopping online?
Using a reputable VPN service is recommended when making online purchases, especially when you are connected to any network other than your trusted home or office network. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, preventing anyone on the same network from intercepting your data, including credit card numbers and login credentials. This is particularly important when using hotel WiFi, airport networks, coffee shop connections, or any public network. However, a VPN does not protect against phishing websites or malware on your device, so it should be used as one component of a comprehensive security approach, not as a standalone solution.
How does PTG help businesses protect customer payment data?
PTG provides comprehensive payment data security services for businesses across the Raleigh, Durham, RTP, and Triangle region, including PCI-DSS compliance assessment and remediation, payment environment security hardening, network segmentation to isolate payment processing systems, encryption of payment data in transit and at rest, employee training on payment security procedures, and ongoing monitoring of payment environments for suspicious activity. By helping businesses properly secure their payment infrastructure, PTG protects both the businesses and the consumers who trust them with their credit card information. Contact PTG at 919-348-4912 for a payment security assessment.
What role does employee training play in preventing credit card fraud at businesses?
Employee training is a critical component of preventing credit card fraud at the business level. Employees who handle payment information must understand proper card handling procedures, how to recognize suspicious transactions, social engineering tactics that criminals use to obtain card data over the phone, and the importance of following established security protocols at all times. PTG provides customized security awareness training for businesses that process credit card payments, ensuring that every employee understands their role in protecting customer financial data. This training helps businesses in the Triangle region maintain PCI-DSS compliance and reduce the risk of payment data breaches originating from human error or social engineering attacks.
Protect Your Customers and Your Business

Secure Your Payment Environment with Petronella Technology Group

Whether you are a consumer seeking to protect your personal financial information or a business owner responsible for securing customer payment data, Petronella Technology Group has the expertise to help. With 22+ years of experience, 2,500+ companies served, and zero breaches among clients following our security program across the Raleigh, Durham, RTP, and greater Triangle NC region, PTG is the security partner you can trust with your most sensitive financial data.