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NEW YORK - Stocks fell on Thursday as investors fretted over a fresh sign of weakness in the job market and the Federal Reserve chairman’s warning that the troubled housing sector could cause small-bank failures.

SAN FRANCISCO - Dell Inc , the world’s second-largegest personal computer maker, on Thursday posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit and cautioned that customers may rein in spending, sending its shares 4 percent lower.

WASHINGTON - The sluggish United States job market deteriorated further last week, adding to troubling signs for an economy that barely grew in the final quarter of 2007, according to government reports on Thursday.

NEW YORK - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc plans to wind down most of its First Franklin subprime mortgage lending unit, responding to continued deterioration in United States mortgage markets, business news channel CNBC reported Thursday.

NEW YORK - Oil vaulted more than 3 percent a barrel on Thursday to an all-time peak near $103 — eclipsing the previous inflation-adjusted high set 28 years ago — after a fire hit a major European natural gas terminal and the United States dollar fell to a record low.

Bernard Pragides

Identity theft comes in many forms, but one of the most common types, and also, one of the most destructive, is credit card fraud. Now, you may think you have protected yourself from credit card fraud, but the reality is, there are so many ways in which an identity theft can steal your details and therefore commit this type of fraud, that you may not have protected yourself against every eventuality.

The first thing you need to think about when considering protecting yourself from credit card fraud, is the ways in which people are able to get hold of your credit cards, or personal information in order to apply for one. The first thing you should watch out for is any problems you may encounter with ATM machines. If you notice anything strange about the way the cash machine is working, do not use it and inform the bank or company that owns the machine. The most common thing that seems to happen, is a small card reader is mounted over the slot that reads the card and can be use for copying it, and also a tiny camera which monitors the pin numbers. This method allows the thief to monitor and collect many different card details and Pin numbers to use in the form of credit card theft. This may also happen for the small machines that you use to pay by card in crooked stores, or by a crooked sales cashier.

For more detailed frauds, these identity thieves need more than just card details. They need address and names, and these can be found by rooting through garbage cans. These details can easily be found on utility bills or bank statements. They can use that information, as well as details that can be found with the electoral roles and other data that is publicly available, to perform costly and intricated forms of credit cards.

Credit card fraud can also be performed in the way of lost mail. Thieves have been known to steal post from mail boxes and every year, the postal companies are reporting more and more lost mail. Important documents such as check books, credit cards, Pin numbers can all be intercepted before they reach the owner of the mailbox.

You should also be aware that thieves also use websites to purchase goods, either by way of credit card fraud, or by just using your personal details. Online auction sites should be carefully monitored, and so should sites that store your personal information for any future purchases.

The only way to be protected against credit card fraud, is to be aware. Your documents can be stolen in so many ways, and you need to ensure that you always keep a close eye on your finances.

There are certain insurances you can take out to protect you, if you should ever become a victim of credit card fraud, and it is a good idea to check out these options for further reference.

There are a lot more ways to protect yourself and your family from this type of fraud. The best thing to do is to put it into practice. Remember these thieves wants your most precious possession, your identity. Knowledge is power!

Author and internet entrepreneur Bernard Pragides offers expert advice and tips regarding identity theft. Learn more about identity theft and fraud by visiting his identity theft blog at www.Identity4Life-blog.com for more helpful information.

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has said on Thursday the United States was not headed toward 1970s-style “stagflation” but acknowledged inflation could complicate the central bank’s effort to spur the economy.

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has said on Thursday the United States was not headed toward 1970s-style “stagflation” but acknowledged inflation could complicate the central bank’s effort to spur the economy.