Now, in a survey of more than 600 small business owners and executives, the Ponemon Institute has tried to put a number on the cost of credit card account fraud for those vulnerable targets, comparing the damage with the cost of physical theft by employees or burglars.

FORBES: For Small Businesses, Account Fraud Adds Up

Secured credit cards, which typically require a deposit on an account, may help students establish credit while reduce their risk of incurring debt.

WSJ: Cards Return to Campus

You need to set up a corporate structure, hire a book keeper, separate the business money from your personal expenses (corporate bank account, business credit card etc.) You should be on top of the financials from day one.

FORBES: David Bach on How to Build a Career Without Going Broke

The result: Even senior foreign nationals on assignment to the U.S. often "cannot open a bank account or get a line of credit, " says Ed Hannibal, North American mobility leader at consulting firm Mercer.

WSJ: Getting Going: Managing Your Finances Abroad

After the incident, a credit-card company shut down Burger Me's account and put a hold on thousands of dollars in incoming payments, says Rich Griffith, its former owner.

WSJ: Hackers New Target: Small Firms With Lax Security