Protecting yourself from credit card fraud
What to watch out for to stay safe
You sign in to your favorite website to make a purchase with your credit card. When you receive your statement a couple of weeks later, you see charges on your account that you don't recognize. Don't panic! There are steps you can take to clear things up and protect your credit score.
What are the risks of using a credit card
One of the biggest risks of using a credit card is that someone could steal either your physical card or your card number and make purchases on your account. The thief could buy inexpensive items or items costing thousands of dollars. This is known as credit card fraud.
There are many ways someone could get your credit card or card number:
- A store or website you visit regularly could have its data stolen.
- You enter your credit card number into a fraudulent website, or you might unintentionally give your card number to a scammer over the phone.
- Someone steals your wallet or purse.
- You swipe your card at a card reader where someone has installed a skimmer, which steals and saves your card information.
The good news is that your credit card company and Chase Credit Journey® are here to help protect you from potential fraud.
How to reduce your risk
Credit card fraud might sound scary, but the good news is that there are simple ways to protect yourself:
- Go to the What we monitor page to learn more about the credit and identity monitoring alerts we provide.
- Keep your credit cards in a safe place.
- Don't give your credit card information to websites you don't trust.
- Look for https:// at the start of a web address or a lock symbol in your browser bar, which indicates you're on a secure website.
- Don't give your credit card number over the phone unless you initiate the call. When in doubt, hang up and call the company back directly.
- Check your credit card statement regularly to look for possible fraud.
- Know how to quickly contact your credit card company if something goes wrong.
- Don't swipe your credit card if it looks like the card reader has been tampered with.
What to do if you lose your card
Things can happen even when you're being careful. If you lose your credit card, just stay calm and follow these steps:
- Contact your credit card company and ask them to freeze the card temporarily.
- Search every wallet, purse, drawer, coat, and pocket for the card.
- Call your credit card company again if the card is still missing.
- Ask the company to cancel and reissue the card.
- Check your credit card statement for any suspicious charges.
- Let your credit card company know about any unauthorized charges.
- Update your autopay settings with the new card number once you receive it.
If you lose your card or if you ever see a suspicious charge on your statement, reach out to your credit card company and let them know right away.
Key takeaways
- Credit cards are a great way to build credit and buy the things you need.
- You're protected against fraud as long as you report the problem quickly to the credit card company.
- Keeping your credit cards in a safe place and regularly checking your statements can help you protect against fraud.
- Find out if your credit card company can freeze your card if it's ever lost or stolen.
