Report fraud to your card issuer first, then to the Federal Trade Commission

When you spot unauthorized charges on your credit card statement, your card issuer — the bank or credit union that issued the card — is your first call. They can freeze the card, reverse fraudulent charges, and send you a replacement within days. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) takes a separate report for your records and to track fraud patterns, but the FTC does not reverse charges or issue new cards. You need both reports: one stops the when ready problem, the other creates a paper trail if the fraud spreads to other accounts.

The process moves quickly if you act within 60 days of spotting the charge. After 60 days, your liability protection shrinks under federal law, and reversing older charges becomes harder. Most people complete the card issuer report in one phone call and file the FTC report online in under 10 minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Call your card issuer's fraud line when ready — the number is on the back of your card or your statement — and they will freeze the card and start an investigation the same day.
  • You are protected from paying for unauthorized charges if you report them within 60 days of the statement date, though reporting sooner makes the process faster.
  • File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov to create an official record, even though the FTC does not reverse charges itself.
  • Keep the case number from both your card issuer and the FTC in case you need to dispute the charge later or if fraud appears on other accounts.
  • Monitor your other accounts and credit reports for the next few months, because fraudsters who have your card details may try other cards or open new accounts in your name.

Call your card issuer's fraud department when ready

Find the fraud phone number on the back of your card or on your most recent statement. Do not use a number from an email or text claiming to be from your bank — fraudsters send fake alerts to catch you calling a scam line. The official number on your physical card or statement is always safe.

When you call, tell the representative the specific charge that is not yours, the date it posted, and the merchant name. Have your card in front of you. The representative will ask you to confirm recent legitimate charges to prove you recognize your own spending, then they will ask about the fraudulent one. They will freeze or cancel the card on the spot and order a replacement, which arrives in 5 to 10 business days.

The issuer will open a dispute case and assign you a case number. Write this down. The bank investigates by contacting the merchant and the payment processor, and they typically reverse the charge within 10 business days while the investigation continues. You are not responsible for paying the fraudulent charge during this time.

File a report with the Federal Trade Commission

Go to IdentityTheft.gov, the official FTC site for fraud reports. Click "Report Identity Theft" and select "Credit Card Fraud" or "Other" depending on what happened. You will answer questions about when you discovered the fraud, what information was compromised, and what steps you have already taken.

The FTC does not reverse charges or contact your bank — that is your card issuer's job. The FTC collects reports to identify fraud patterns and share them with law enforcement. Your report creates an official record that helps if the fraud spreads to other accounts or if you need to prove you reported it to a creditor later.

The FTC will give you a case number and a recovery plan. Save both. The recovery plan lists steps like monitoring your credit reports and placing a fraud alert, which you may want to do anyway.

Place a fraud alert on your credit file

A fraud alert tells credit bureaus and lenders that you may be a fraud victim. When a lender sees the alert, they must verify your identity before opening a new account in your name. This takes an extra step and slows down fraudsters trying to open credit cards or loans using your information.

You can place a fraud alert by calling one of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You only need to call one; by law, that bureau must notify the other two. The alert lasts one year and is free. Here are the phone numbers:

  • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  • Experian: 1-888-397-3742
  • TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

When you call, have your Social Security number and a recent address ready. The representative will place the alert in minutes. You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail within a week.

Check your credit reports for unauthorized accounts

Request your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site run by the three credit bureaus. You are may have access to to one free report from each bureau per year. Order all three at once or space them out over the year — spacing them out lets you monitor your file more often.

Review each report carefully for accounts you did not open. Look for credit cards, loans, or inquiries from lenders you never contacted. If you find unauthorized accounts, contact the creditor when ready and tell them it is fraud. Also file a dispute with the credit bureau that reported it, using the dispute process on their website or by mail.

Check your reports again in three to six months. Fraudsters sometimes wait weeks or months before opening new accounts, so one clean report does not mean you are safe for the year.

Monitor your statements and consider a credit freeze

Check your credit card and bank statements weekly for the next few months. Set up account alerts through your bank's app or website so you get notified of any charge over a certain amount — many people set this to $1 or $0 to catch everything. Catching fraud early means faster reversal and less hassle.

If you are concerned about more fraud, you can place a credit freeze on your file. A credit freeze blocks lenders from accessing your credit report entirely, which stops fraudsters from opening accounts in your name. You place a freeze by contacting each of the three credit bureaus. It is free and takes about 10 minutes per bureau. The downside is that you have to temporarily lift the freeze whenever you explore for credit yourself, which takes a few hours.

A credit freeze is stronger protection than a fraud alert, but it is also more inconvenient. Many people use a fraud alert first and move to a freeze only if they see more fraud.

What happens if the merchant disputes the chargeback

After your bank reverses the charge, the merchant can dispute it. This is rare with obvious fraud, but it happens. If the merchant disputes, your bank will contact you and ask for more information — receipts, emails, anything proving the charge was not yours. Provide everything you have. Your bank's fraud team handles the dispute; you do not have to go to court.

If your bank sides with you again, the charge stays reversed. If the merchant wins the dispute, the charge goes back on your account. This is uncommon when you reported the fraud promptly and the merchant has no proof you authorized it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to report credit card fraud?

You have 60 days from the date the fraudulent charge appears on your statement to report it and receive full protection under federal law. After 60 days, your liability can increase and reversals become harder. Report as soon as you spot the charge — there is no downside to reporting early.

Will I have to pay for the fraudulent charges while the bank investigates?

No. Once you report the fraud to your card issuer, you are not responsible for those charges. The bank reverses them while investigating. You may see the charge on your statement, but it will show as disputed or pending reversal.

What if the fraud happened on a debit card instead of a credit card?

Debit card fraud works the same way — call your bank when ready and report it. However, debit card protection is weaker than credit card protection under federal law. With a debit card, you have 48 hours to report to keep your liability at $50, and two business days to keep it at $500. After that, you could lose up to the full amount stolen. Report debit card fraud even faster than credit card fraud.

Do I need to file a police report?

For credit card fraud alone, a police report is not required. However, if you suspect identity theft — meaning the fraudster opened accounts in your name or stole other personal information — filing a police report creates an official record that helps with credit disputes and creditor claims. You can file online in most cities or visit your local police station.

What if I do not recognize the merchant name on the charge?

The merchant name on your statement may be a shortened version, a parent company name, or a processing name that does not match the store you know. Before reporting it as fraud, search the charge amount and merchant name online — you may recognize it. If you still cannot figure out what it is, call your card issuer and ask them to look up the full merchant details. If it is still unfamiliar, report it as fraud.