First, find out if it is in fact worth it. Generally speaking, these attractive advertisements and super credit card deals advertise very low introductory rates if you transfer your current balance from an existing credit card onto this new one. Desperate times mean desperate measures.

In this economy, we are seeing scams of all kinds resurfacing, including credit card shaving. Merchants should also turn the card over and ensure the back of the card has the proper marks.

For sales conducted without a card for online or phone transactions, Harkins advises merchants to protect themselves by requesting the three-number security code on the back of the card (four digits and on the front of American Express cards). "If it doesn't match, ask additional questions or investigate the customer before completing the transaction," he says. Inevitably, some of the scammers will succeed, and unless the cardholder has a firm handle on his or her account, the crime can go entirely unnoticed.

Experts say this further reinforces the need for cardholder diligence on a regular basis. "It's vital to check your balances and accounts on a regular basis and report any suspicious purchases to help identify the theft quickly," says Krishnan.

You can stumble upon these offers anywhere-online, in the mail, on a flyer or via a telephone call from credit card company salespersons-and you need to determine how great these deals really are, or if you'll just end up paying much more in fees and interest in the long run.