Contact your bank right away. To limit your liability, it is important to notify the bank promptly upon discovering any unauthorized charge(s). You may notify the bank in person, by telephone, or in writing. The bank should have provided you with information in your account agreement on how to notify it when you believe there is unauthorized use of your credit card. The address to write to regarding unauthorized charges may be different from where you send your payment.
After receiving your notification, the bank must conduct a reasonable investigation of the claim before it can claim that no billing error occurred or that a different billing error occurred. Actions that a bank may take in reviewing a claim include the following:
- Looking at the transaction in light of other purchases
- Reviewing whether goods were delivered to your residence or place of business
- Comparing signatures
- Requesting a copy of a police report, if one was filed
- Requesting documentation to assist in validating the claim
- Requesting a signed written statement from the cardholder or authorized user
- Requesting information about the cardholder's knowledge of the person who allegedly used the card or of that person's authority to do so.
The bank must notify you of the results of its investigation within two complete billing cycles or 90 days after receiving the notice, whichever is less.
Refer to 12 CFR 1026 "Truth in Lending (Regulation Z)" for more information.
Last Reviewed:April 2021
Please note: The terms "bank" and "banks" used in these answers generally refer to national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banking organizations that are regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Find out if the OCC regulates your bank. Information provided on HelpWithMyBank.gov should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion of the OCC.
FAQs
What should I do if there are unauthorized charges on my credit card account? Contact your bank right away. To limit your liability, it is important to notify the bank promptly upon discovering any unauthorized charge(s). You may notify the bank in person, by telephone, or in writing.
How do I deal with unauthorized credit card charges? ›
Steps to Take if You're the Victim of Credit Card Fraud
- Notify Your Credit Card Issuer. Immediately contact your credit card issuer of the fraudulent transaction. ...
- Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report. ...
- Report the Credit Card Fraud to Law Enforcement. ...
- Contact the Credit Bureaus.
Research online: Look up the name of the merchant online as it appears on your statement. Your credit card company may provide additional merchant details you can use in your search, such as the merchant's phone number or website.
Can someone charge your credit card without authorization? ›
First of all, a business can't charge your card without your permission. It would need to get your authorization first. This holds true whether you're paying with your smartphone or for any other online card-not-present transaction.
What to do if you don't recognize a transaction? ›
Once you notify your bank or credit union about an unauthorized transaction (that is, a charge or withdrawal you didn't make or allow), it generally has ten business days to investigate the issue. The bank or credit union must correct an error within one business day after determining that an error has occurred.
What happens when a credit card company investigate unauthorized charges? ›
When the bank or card issuer receives all the required documentation, they will have between 30 and 90 days to evaluate the case, formulate a response and resolve the issue. Depending upon the nature and scope of the fraud, the bank may decide to notify law enforcement.
Will I get my money back for unauthorized transactions? ›
Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.
Why is there a charge on my card I didn't make? ›
Unauthorized credit card charges include any type of charge to your account for which you didn't give permission. 1 Often, unauthorized charges result from credit card theft—either from a stolen credit card or a compromised card number. Sometimes, unauthorized charges result from clerical error or a computer glitch.
Can credit card charges be traced? ›
The authorities typically track fraudulent credit card transactions by: Checking transaction timestamp and IP address. Using geolocation tracking. Investigating the buyer's data and further account activity.
Can the bank see who used my card online? ›
Can You Track Someone Who Used Your Credit Card Online? No. However, if you report the fraud in a timely manner, the bank or card issuer will open an investigation. Banks have a system for investigating credit card fraud, including some standard procedures.
You can assert claims and defenses only if all the following are true: The disputed amount is over $50; The seller is in the same state as you or within 100 miles of your billing address (this requirement may not apply if you bought the item online or by phone);
Can you sue someone for charging your credit card? ›
Yes. In order to assert claims and defenses, the purchase must have been made in the same state you live in, or within 100 miles of your home. Also, the amount of the disputed charge must be more than $50.
Do banks actually investigate unauthorized transactions? ›
Once a potential fraudulent transaction is flagged, banks deploy specialized investigation teams. These professionals, often with backgrounds in finance and cybersecurity, examine the electronic trails of transactions and apply account-based rules to trace the origin of the suspected fraud.
Can I track who used my credit card? ›
Yes. Tracking who used a credit card is often possible, especially if the fraud involved physical transactions at identifiable locations or digital transactions with traceable IP addresses and device information.
What happens to the merchant when you dispute a charge? ›
When a cardholder disputes a transaction, the bank initiates a chargeback and contacts the merchant providing a reason code for the dispute. The merchant then has the option to either accept the dispute and the associated losses or fight the chargeback by providing evidence that the transaction was valid.
Can the bank find out who used my credit card? ›
Yes. Tracking who used a credit card is often possible, especially if the fraud involved physical transactions at identifiable locations or digital transactions with traceable IP addresses and device information.
What happens when you dispute an unauthorized charge? ›
Your credit card company will likely remove the charge from your statement during the dispute process. You won't need to pay it until a decision is reached regarding the dispute, and if you win, you won't need to pay it at all.
