Beating credit card fraud

How to protect yourself if you see unauthorized purchases

Credit card fraud is, unfortunately, common. And it tends to occur more frequently around the holidays when consumers are busy, shopping often and paying less attention to details. So if you find some unusual charges on your credit card as you wind down the year, here’s what to do.

1 Know your protections

First, take a deep breath and remember: As long as you report unauthorized credit card charges to the issuer, you typically won’t have to pay for them. That’s thanks to protections under federal law and “zero liability” policies from credit card networks. For unauthorized use, your liability is limited to $50 under the law, says Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney for the National Consumer Law Center. “So if your thief uses your card to run up a bunch of charges, you can only be liable for $50. And if it’s used for an internet purchase, they can’t even charge you for the $50, if the card isn’t present.” Many issuers also waive that $50 because of zero liability policies. Zero liability policies can be voided in cases of cardholder carelessness, but federal law still offers protection.

2 File a dispute

Promptly disputing fraudulent charges is key. Call the issuer’s customer service number or file a dispute online. “Most of the time, it’s going to be relatively easy to resolve,” says Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. Typically your fraudulent charges are limited under the law, even if you take a long time to report them. But wait too long and you risk forfeiting eligibility for zero liability protection. In the meantime, fishy charges might keep piling up. Ask for confirmation that you’ve filed a dispute. It might take more than one call to resolve.

3 Set up the new card

If your credit card is affected by fraud, issuers usually close that account and send you a new card with a new number. This typically won’t affect the age of the account or harm your credit scores. However, when you get a new card, you still have to activate it and update card information for recurring payments, which can be a hassle. There’s no surefire way to protect your new card from fraudulent charges, but a few moves could help: Keep an eye on your wallet. Set up text or other alerts to help you track card activity. Designate a separate card for recurring payments. Update any passwords and monitor your accounts. Preventing credit card fraud isn’t always possible, but reporting it promptly helps you bounce back fast.