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Is there any honest consumer out there who wouldn’t like to see retail credit card theft summarily reduced by 80 percent? Frankly, there is a relatively easy way to do, as an Eyewitness News investigation recently revealed.
Just get merchants to ask credit card using customers to show a second form of identification! That’s all! A simple request and experts say 8 in 10 incidents of theft using stolen credit cards could be eliminated.
The hang up, though, according to merchants, is the potential victim – the credit card using customer.
“They’re very angry, saying, ‘Wait a minute, I’m not a thief. Why are you making me do all these additional things?” (James Olsen, Utah Retail Merchants Association)
So here’s what KSL proposes:
Merchants across Utah – start asking the question. You might ruffle a few feathers, but if every merchant would do it - if it became common place - the feathers would soon be smoothed.
And consumers - realize times have changed. There are thieves out there who would gladly take advantage of you. So get in the mind set, for your own protection, of knowing you’re going to be asked to show a second form of ID.
It is an easy and relatively painless way to dramatically reduce one of the most frequently committed crimes occurring across the land.
