How to Report Credit Card Fraud to the Police

Law enforcement values your help in cracking down on credit card fraud.

The Federal Trade Commission says credit card fraud is a serious international problem with crooks working daily to steal your money through the Internet, regular mail, the telephone and other means. Anyone with a credit card could become a victim, and thousands of people are defrauded each year, according to the FTC. You should report credit card fraud immediately after learning you may have been victimized.

Instructions

1. Gather evidence to support your suspicion that fraudulent activity may have taken place. Obtain your credit reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. Get free copies of your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Federal law entitles you to one free report every 12 months from each of the credit bureaus. Also check your bank statements.

2. Review your credit reports and bank statements to identify specific instances of fraud. Look for new accounts opened without your knowledge, an unauthorized address change or purchases that you did not make. Conduct an inventory of all your credit cards and determine if any are missing. Ask anyone who may have had access to your cards, including family members, about the unauthorized charges.

3. Call your credit card company or bank to report the unauthorized charges and fraudulent activity. Make the report by calling the number on the back of your credit card. Follow up with a letter sent by standard mail to the address on your credit card statement.

4. Call the your local police to report the crime. The FTC says you should ask the police to take your report in person rather than over the phone. That will allow you to present documentation supporting your claim, such as bank card statements showing the fraudulent activity. Ask the police for a copy of the report, including the police report number.

5. Call the FTC at 877-382-4357 to report the incident. The FTC gathers evidence of fraud, identifies trends and alerts law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada. The agency won't investigate your crime but will use your experience to help others from becoming victims.

6. Wait while the police conduct an investigation. Call the police department for updates if no one gets back to you. Refer to your police report number when you call.

Tips & Warnings

• The FTC says some police departments may be reluctant to take your report depending on the severity of the crime. For example, a fraudulent, $10 charge on your credit card could be considered a crime, but some police jurisdictions would rather allow the card company and merchant work it out. The FTC says you should call your state police if the local police cannot help. The FTC says you can also ask the local police to take a "Miscellaneous Incident" report if they are unwilling to open a fraud investigation. The incident report will at least provide some official documentation of your complaint.

References

• Federal Trade Commission: Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What to do if They're Lost or Stolen
• Federal Trade Commission: Defend -- Recover from Identity Theft
• Federal Trade Commission: Fraud -- Recognize It. Report It. Stop It.