What to do if You’re a Victim of Credit Card Fraud

There are many different types of credit card fraud. Whether your card was lost, stolen, or your information was hacked, all types of credit card fraud are extremely serious and should be handled as soon as possible. If your card has shown fraudulent activity you should follow these 4 action steps.

1. Call your credit card company IMMEDIATELY

Most companies have a zero-liability policy. This means that if you call your company before there are any fraudulent charges on your card then you’re not responsible for any of the charges. If you call your company after there are fraudulent charges on your card then you are only responsible for $50 worth of the charges. So the sooner you call the better!

2. Change all of your passwords and pins

Odds are that you reuse the same password and pins over and over again across all of your accounts.  That means if a hacker has gotten hold of your card and personal information, they more than likely have the ability to hack your other accounts too. Keep in mind, if they hacked your account and information once and you don’t change your password, it will be even easier for them to do it a second time.

3. Keep an eye on your account

Watch your account activity and bank statements to make sure everything is taken care of.

4. Report it to the authorities

Consider reporting your fraudulent activity to the police or the federal trade commission for further assistance.