Despite low figures of credit card fraud from a major credit card company, city officials said it is a common crime in DeKalb.

“It’s a pretty popular crime, and it’s fairly common in DeKalb,” said DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes. “We get a lot of calls concerning credit card fraud.”

A 1999 Visa USA report, on the other hand, shows that fraud is at an all time low, with six cents per $100 in fraudulent purchases.

Visa does not require the customers to provide identification at the time of the purchase, allowing fraudulent purchases to happen at anytime.

At some places, like gas stations and online, the merchant may never even see your face, Kayes said.

“Anyone who sees that number on your card can use it to buy stuff,” he said.

Kayes pointed to his own experience with fraud.

“My card was stolen once,” he said. “Someone used $600 on my card to gamble online.”

Some banks have taken steps to prevent credit card fraud.

“People’s private information is protected within the bank’s computers,” said Darryl Dunham, security officer for Castle Bank, 141 W. Lincoln Highway. “But if your card does get stolen, you should put a stop on it, report it to the police department and get a copy of your credit report.”

The basic charge for unlawful use of a credit card is one to five years in jail, Kayes said. Offenders may also face additional fines for fraudulent purchase.

“Some people go online and buy stuff with another person’s card, but most of the time they have to have it delivered,” he said. “That’s how we catch them, we find out where it’s going, and sometimes we go there.”

Kayes said noticing something unusual in people’s spending habits that is usually the key to determining credit card fraud.

The issuing banks ultimately determine if the purchase was fraudulent, Dunham said.

“We investigate the situation and verify who the person is,” Dunham said. “But to prevent fraud, people should know where there card is at all times.”