Secured vs Unsecured Credit Cards...

A secured credit card is secured by the cardholder with a deposit to ensure payment of the outstanding balance. This is done to protect the cardholder from defaulting on payment. Secured credit card offers are targeted at customers with less than perfect credit histories, who do not qualify for a traditional unsecured credit card offer.

An unsecured credit card is credit extended on the card holders promise to repay debt, and for which collateral is not required. This type of credit card offer is for people with good to excellent credit.

Most banks and financial institutions will grant you an usecured credit card if you meet the following requirements:
Must be a resident of the United States
Must be at least 18 years of age
Must have good credit
Must make at least $95 a week
Must have a valid Social Security number
Must be employed for at least 6 months

Credit card terms and conditions vary among issuers. When searching for a credit card, consider the annual fee, finance charges, interest rates (APR), if there is a grace period for purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, credit limit, how widely the card is accepted and additional services and features.

Credit card fraud does happen and one way to keep fraud under control is to closely monitor a credit report with a credit monitoring service. There is a price for this service and it can range from $20-$50 per year. Form this fee unlimited copies are given of the credit report so it can be checked whenever needed. Monitoring credit will inform any questionable changes, black marks, inquiries and credit card fraud signs.

Although It doesn't seem to be, it is actually much safer to use credit cards on the Internet with a secure server than calling someone and giving the credit card numbers over the phone. The Internet uses a secure server, scrambling the data and putting it back together again. Giving a credit card number by phone is not scrambled and is verbally given to someone.