13 AUG 2013 - 1731 CDT What follows is not advertising for my insurance company. It is based on my own credit card experience. I want to add an important detail to Dave Sumner's message about compromised credit cards. Many compromised credit cards are not the result of careless credit card use or identity theft using stolen credit cards and credit card numbers. I was informed by my USAA (United Services Automobile Association) security department that the industry-wide algorithm that creates the card account number and the companion security code was compromised about six years ago. The machines used to manufacture credit cards are readily available. With this algorithm and very little computer programming knowledge, anybody can create a credit card that works. Anybody's name can be put on these bogus cards. USAA's computer system continuously monitors all of its credit card transactions and will instantly lock down an account that shows card-testing and other unusual activity. The banking and credit card industries do not want to talk about this ever-growing problem because of the potential world-wide financial upheaval that could result. So far, the industry is simply absorbing these losses as part of the cost of doing business. However, it is the legitimate card users who ultimately pay this cost. This has happened to me three times the past six years through no fault of mine or USAA. I can contact U.S. - based security personnel tool-free 24-7, if I see a problem or the computer has locked my credit card. I have never lost a penny and I do not have to file a lot of claims and statements. BTW, I refer to the USAA as my USAA because all USAA members are the owners of USAA. - Dick, W9GIG