Report fraud to your card issuer first, then to the Federal Trade Commission
When you spot unauthorized charges on your credit card statement, contact your bank or card issuer when ready — this is your fastest route to stopping the fraud and protecting your account. Most issuers have a fraud department that operates 24/7, and you can reach them through the phone number on the back of your card or through your online banking portal. Your issuer will freeze or cancel the card, investigate the charges, and typically issue you a replacement card within 5 to 10 business days.
After you report to your card issuer, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. This creates an official record that you can use if the fraud is part of a larger identity theft scheme, and it helps law enforcement track patterns. You do not need to file a police report first — the FTC report itself is sufficient for most card fraud cases.
Key Takeaways
- Call the fraud department number on the back of your card as soon as you notice unauthorized charges; most issuers answer 24/7 and can freeze your account when ready.
- Your card issuer will investigate the charges and typically reverse them within 10 business days, and you are not responsible for fraudulent purchases once you report them.
- File a report at IdentityTheft.gov with the Federal Trade Commission to create an official record and help authorities track fraud patterns.
- If the fraud involved a stolen physical card or account number, ask your issuer whether you should file a police report in your jurisdiction.
- Monitor your credit report for the next several months to catch any accounts opened in your name without your knowledge.
What to have ready when you call your card issuer
Gather your statement or the email notification showing the fraudulent charge before you call. Have your card number, the date you noticed the fraud, and the specific transactions you are disputing. The fraud department will ask you to confirm your identity — usually your Social Security number, date of birth, and answers to security questions you set up when you opened the account.
Be ready to tell the representative whether you still have the physical card, whether it was lost or stolen, or whether you believe your account number was compromised online. This detail helps the issuer determine how the fraud happened and whether other accounts of yours might be at risk. If you do not know how the fraud occurred, say that — the issuer does not need you to solve the case, only to confirm that the charges are not yours.
What happens after you report the fraud
Your card issuer will place a temporary hold on your account while they investigate, usually within one business day. They will send you a new card with a different number, and any recurring charges (subscriptions, automatic bill payments) linked to the old card will need to be updated once you receive the replacement. Ask the representative for the timeline — some issuers mail cards within 3 business days, others take up to 10.
The issuer will reverse the fraudulent charges and credit your account. Federal law limits your liability to $50 per card if you report the fraud before the card is used, and $0 if you report it after unauthorized charges appear. Most major issuers waive the $50 liability entirely as a customer service practice. The investigation itself typically takes 10 business days, though complex cases may take longer.
Filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission
Go to IdentityTheft.gov and select "Report identity theft" at the top of the page. You will answer questions about what happened, when you discovered it, and what type of fraud it was (in this case, credit card fraud). The FTC will generate an Identity Theft Report, which is a document you can read and print when ready.
Keep a copy of your FTC Identity Theft Report. If the fraud is part of a larger identity theft — for example, if accounts were opened in your name or your Social Security number was used — you will need this report to dispute those accounts with credit bureaus and to place fraud alerts on your credit file. The report also serves as proof if your card issuer or another creditor questions whether you reported the fraud promptly.
When to file a police report
You do not need a police report to dispute credit card fraud with your issuer or the FTC. However, some situations make a police report useful: if your physical card was stolen, if you believe someone has committed identity theft using your information, or if your state or local police department requires one before they will investigate. Call your local police non-emergency line and ask whether they take fraud reports by phone or require you to visit in person.
When you file a police report, bring your FTC Identity Theft Report, your card statement showing the fraudulent charges, and any other documentation of the fraud. Give the police a copy of your FTC report — this shows you have already reported the fraud to the federal government. The police report creates another official record and may be necessary if you later need to dispute fraudulent accounts opened in your name.
Protecting yourself after fraud is reported
Check your credit report from all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — within 30 days of reporting the fraud. You can order free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for accounts you did not open, inquiries from creditors you did not contact, or addresses that are not yours. If you find unauthorized accounts, dispute them with the credit bureau and with the company that opened the account.
Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file. This tells creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name. You can place a fraud alert for free by calling any of the three credit bureaus; they will notify the other two automatically. A fraud alert lasts one year and can be renewed. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, you can place an extended fraud alert that lasts seven years.
What to do if your issuer denies your fraud claim
If your card issuer investigates and concludes that the charges were authorized, you have the right to dispute that decision. Ask the representative for the reason they denied your claim and request a written explanation. Review the transaction details — the merchant name, date, and amount — to see if there is information you missed or misremembered.
If you still believe the charges are fraudulent, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at ConsumerFinance.gov. The CFPB investigates complaints against banks and card issuers and can pressure them to reconsider. Include copies of your statement, your FTC Identity Theft Report, and any correspondence with your issuer. The CFPB typically responds within 15 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I responsible for paying fraudulent charges while the issuer investigates?
No. Once you report the fraud, you are not responsible for those charges. Federal law caps your liability at $50 per card, and most issuers waive that fee entirely. The issuer will credit your account once the investigation is complete, usually within 10 business days.
How long does it take to get a replacement card after I report fraud?
Most issuers mail a replacement card within 3 to 10 business days. Some offer expedited shipping for an additional fee, or you can ask whether they can issue a temporary card number you can use when ready while you wait for the physical card.
Do I need to file a police report to dispute the fraud with my card issuer?
No. Your card issuer will investigate based on your report alone. A police report is useful only if the fraud is part of identity theft, if your state requires one, or if you need documentation for other creditors later.
What if the fraudulent charges are from a merchant I actually use?
Tell your issuer that you recognize the merchant but did not authorize those specific charges. This can happen if your card information was stolen from a merchant's system, or if someone else used your card at that location. The issuer will still investigate and reverse the charges if they are unauthorized.
How do I know if fraud is part of identity theft?
Identity theft involves someone using your personal information to open new accounts or take out loans in your name. If you only see unauthorized charges on an existing card, that is card fraud. If you also see new credit accounts, inquiries from creditors you did not contact, or collection notices for accounts you did not open, that is identity theft. Check your credit report to be sure.