What to do About Fraud Activity on a Credit Card
If your credit card---or just the credit card number---is stolen or lost, someone may begin using it to make fraudulent charges. This activity must be stopped for your sake as well as the credit card company and the businesses accepting the charges.
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Call Your Credit Card Company
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Call your credit card company as soon as you suspect fraudulent activity has occurred. According to the law, after you report the activity, you are not responsible for additional charges. Your call also will allow the credit card company to stop new charges.
Send a Follow Up Letter
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A phone call is not enough. Your credit card company needs written documentation to complete their files. Send a written letter to your credit card company that includes your account number and the details of the fraudulent activity.
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Fraud Affidavit
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The credit card company may send you a form known as a fraud affidavit. Fill it out, and return it promptly so that the company can pursue legal action against the person who perpetrated the fraud.
Document All Communication
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Write down the date and name of everyone you talk to about this issue, and keep copies of all correspondence.
Check Your Credit Report
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Keep a close eye on your credit report to make sure that no fraudulent charges are reported on your credit report. If they are, write a letter to the credit reporting agencies to dispute it.
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