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Watch accounts closely 

when card data is hacked

Keep a close eye on your account 

activity and report suspicious 

transactions quickly if you believe 

someone stole your credit or debit 

card information. 

It doesn’t matter if your account number was among 

millions of others swept up in a massive data breach, 

or if a hacker snared your information from an 

unsecure WiFi network, if you take the right steps, you 

will not be responsible for unauthorized debits to your 

checking account, or charges to your credit card. 

Check your statements for 

unauthorized charges or debits 

If you have online or mobile access to your accounts, 

check your transactions as frequently as possible. If 

you receive paper statements, be sure to open them 

and review them closely. You should do this even if 

you’re not sure your information was compromised.

Look for any suspicious activity like unfamiliar 

merchant names, especially from merchants 

outside your area, even if the transaction amounts 

are small. Sometimes thieves will process a small 

debit or charge against your account and return to 

take more if the small debit or charge goes through.

Make a habit of monitoring your accounts. 

Fraudulent charges or debits to your accounts might 

occur months after the theft of your information. 

Immediately alert your provider if 

you spot suspicious activity 

Contact your bank or card provider immediately if 

you suspect an unauthorized debit or charge. If a 

thief takes money from your bank account by debit, 

or charges items to your credit card, you should 

cancel the card and have it replaced before more 

transactions come through. You should also consider 

changing your PIN just to be on the safe side.

For credit cards

You are not responsible for unauthorized charges 

if someone stole only your credit card account 

number. If the card is lost or stolen too, you could 

be responsible for up to $50.
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For debit cards

If an unauthorized transaction appears on your 

statement (but your card or PIN has not been lost 

or stolen) you will not be liable for the debit if you 

report it within 60 days after your account statement 

is sent to you. But, if the charge goes unreported for 

more than 60 days, your money could be lost. When 

you report the theft, the bank will investigate and 

may credit the money back to your account. 

The time for you to report is much shorter if your 

card or PIN has been lost or stolen (2 business days, 

in order to limit your liability to no more than $50 of 

unauthorized charges), so make the report as soon 

as you learn that your card is missing or your PIN 

has been stolen. 

For payroll, benefits, and prepaid cards

For these types of cards, your rights vary 

depending on the card. If you think someone stole 

information from a payroll, government benefit, or 

prepaid card, check with the provider to find out 

its policy and deadlines for disputing charges. Your 

rights vary depending on the type of card. 

How to report a suspicious charge 

or debit

If you spot a fraudulent transaction, call the 

card provider’s toll-free customer service 

number immediately. Ask how you can follow 

up with a written communication. Your monthly 

statement or error resolution notice also likely 

includes instructions on how and where to report 

fraudulent charges or billing disputes. 

Be sure to keep copies of your letters for your 

records. Write down the dates you make follow-up 

calls and keep this information together in a file.

Tip: If you get a replacement card with a new 

number, remember to update any automatic 

payments linked to the card.

Contact us if you’re unhappy with 

card providers’ response

Card providers should investigate the charges and 

respond quickly – generally within 10 business days 

of receiving an error notice for debit card disputes or 

within two billing cycles for credit card disputes. You 

have a right to know the results of the investigation. 

Submit a complaint

If you have an issue with the card provider’s 

response, you can submit a complaint to us. 

Go to consumerfinance.gov/complaint or 

call (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

You can also learn more about billing 

disputes and your card protections at 

consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb.