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How to Report Credit Card Fraud

5 min read
Last Updated: February 10, 2026

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

  1. Any unauthorized transaction on your credit card account could be a sign your personal information is at risk.

  2. If you suspect credit card fraud, you should report it to your credit card issuer immediately.

  3. If you believe you’re the victim of identity theft, you should also contact the major credit bureaus and file a police report.

If you see a transaction you don’t recognize on your credit card account, even if it’s just a few pennies, don’t ignore it. New charges could be a sign of fraudulent activity and that your credit card number, your account, and your identity is in danger. Take action right away if you believe you’ve been the victim of identify theft or credit card fraud.

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Types of credit card fraud

Even the most careful people can fall victim to credit card fraud. Why? Credit card fraud can occur in many ways. Credit cards can be lost or stolen, for example. Someone could access your personal identifying information by stealing your mail or looking over your shoulder at your phone screen.

 

In the digital age, these criminals have gotten savvier in how they obtain information.  Let’s look at a couple of common credit card fraud methods.

  • Credit and debit card skimming: According to the FBI, “skimming” refers to stealing debit or credit card information via a special device—a skimmer—illegally attached to an ATM, gas pump, or point-of-sale terminal. A scammer can use the information they collect from skimming to create fake cards and access victims’ accounts. While you may be able to identify a skimmer, it’s not always easy. Fortunately, chip credit cards are less vulnerable to skimming than older cards with only magnetic strips.
  • Email and phone phishing: A “phishing scam” occurs when a perpetrator tricks a victim into sharing personal information. Thieves can use your information to steal money or even your identity. A scammer may use phishing techniques to access your credit card information. In one common example, an identity thief will pretend to be an authority figure (like your boss) and may email or text you a link and say it’s a vital document for you to sign. If you click the link, it installs malicious keylogging software on your computer. The software can record all the login names and passwords you type, which could allow access to your personal and financial information.
  • Data breach: Criminals may hack into databases from retailers or other companies to access sensitive information for a large number of consumers at once. They then use this information to make purchases or open new credit. This form of cybercrime is becoming increasingly common.
  • Spyware: Thieves might use spyware, which is software that gets private information from your computer or from the systems of online retailers where you shop.

The following steps could help you avoid credit card fraud:

  • Don’t click on any links you’re not sure of.
  • Don’t email personal financial information without encrypting it, even if you trust the recipient.
  • Don’t divulge any sensitive information over phone, text, or email unless you have initiated the contact.
  • Never call a number or click on a link that suddenly appears on your computer screen. This is especially important if it claims that your computer has a virus.
  • Keep your antivirus and anti-malware programs updated.
  • Consider a credit monitoring service to alert you to any credit changes and detect fraud early.
  • Try to use credit and debit cards with the chip instead of the magnetic strip.
  • Use your online banking to regularly monitor account activity, and act immediately if anything looks abnormal.
  • Freeze your account and request a replacement card if you suspect someone has accessed your account information.

Temporarily freezing your account could help you prevent additional unauthorized transactions as you report credit card fraud. With Discover® cards, freeze your account to prevent new purchases and cash advances in seconds with our mobile app or website.2

Reporting credit card fraud

Educate yourself on how to report credit card fraud so you know what to do if you find yourself in this situation. Fortunately, there are measures of consumer protection in the case of credit card fraud, but it’s important to act quickly.

 

The first step is to call your credit card company or financial institution as soon as possible. You can find the number on the back of your credit card, on your credit card statement, or on the card issuer’s website.

If, in addition to a fraudulent charge, you believe your identity has been stolen, you should take a few more steps:

  • Contact the credit bureaus: You’ll want to contact each of the major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit reports. With fraud alerts, lenders must verify your identity when someone attempts to open a new account under your name. In serious cases, you may also take a more intense option: placing a credit freeze on your reports with each credit bureau. This makes it more difficult for thieves to open an account in your name by preventing credit report inquiries unless you temporarily lift the freeze on your report when applying for a new account.
  • File a police report: It’s important to file an identity theft report with your local police precinct if you have evidence that someone has stolen your identity. Make sure you keep a copy of the police report because you may need to submit it to creditors and others.
  • File a report with the FTC: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides a dedicated website that helps you report identity theft and provides a personal recovery plan to help you clear the fraudulent charge(s).

The bottom line

Criminals are becoming more sophisticated in the ways they commit credit card theft. Be sure to stay vigilant and proactive in guarding your personal information from identity theft whenever possible, putting the proper fraud prevention safeguards in place.

 

When you see an unauthorized charge on your account or suspect potential fraud, it’s important to take it seriously, regardless of the transaction amount. Take the steps laid out in this article to mitigate the potential damages to your credit.

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