You don't want this to happen when you are in the midst of a renovation.

Phone rings.

I answer.

An automated recording from my credit card company's security department tells me that they have noticed suspicious activity on my account and need me to verify the last several transactions. When they get to the "money transfer at a Western Union," I scratch my head. Yeah, that one was not me, nor was it the spouse. Thus, pressing the appropriate button, I am transferred to a customer service representative, informed by this person that my cards are being canceled effective NOW, and new cards will be sent to me in 7-10 business days.

Yeah, that's just what you want to hear when you are renovating a house. Your primary purchasing source has just been shut down, and you must scramble to set up the back up purchasing source.

For the record, both credit cards are in my and the spouse's possession, so this is a case of someone, somehow, getting a hold of my information electronically or by snapping a photo of the card, copying down the number, whatever. Sigh. The price of life in the present, I suppose. This is the second time that my card has been replaced for security reasons.

A big thank you to the security department at Citi. You are on top of your game.