Dezcourse

Alright, let’s get into it. The day you find out your credit card info has been stolen? It’s like waking up to a giant punch in the gut. You check your phone, see a bunch of transactions you didn’t make, and boom. Panic mode. Welcome to the world of fraud.

I know. I’ve been there. It’s not pretty. But there’s a game plan. Here’s exactly what to do if your credit card information is stolen—straight from someone who’s been through the ringer and lived to tell the tale.

Step 1: You Spot the Red Flags. Now What?

So, first things first—how do you even know your card’s been jacked? Sometimes, it’s super obvious (like your card getting used to buy a 12-foot inflatable unicorn in Canada when you live in Nebraska). Other times, it’s sneakier.

I’ll tell you about that time I found a $5 charge from a place I’d never heard of. Thought it was a mistake. Then came $200. Then a plane ticket to Miami. Yeah, that escalated fast.

Anyway, here’s the kicker: look for stuff like:

• Small charges (like a “test purchase” from a sketchy site)
• Weird location-based purchases (like buying things in another country while you’re sitting in your kitchen)
• A charge for something you definitely didn’t buy. Like that flight.

If you see one, call it out. Don’t wait for it to turn into a full-blown shopping spree. You’ve gotta act quick when you realize what to do if your credit card information is stolen.

Step 2: Call Your Bank. Like, Immediately.

You’re in full panic mode now, right? Your credit card issuer? They’re the first people to call. It’s gotta be done—fast. I mean, I thought I could handle it on my own… until I didn’t.

What to do when you call:

• Tell ‘em you’ve spotted some fraudulent charges.
• Ask them to freeze your account and send you a new card.
• Get ‘em to assure you that you’re not on the hook for these charges (you’re not, most of the time).

Oh, and here’s the thing—they’ll probably tell you it’s all going to be okay, but don’t just take their word for it. Get everything in writing, just in case things go sideways later.

Step 3: Review Every Transaction (And Don’t Rush It)

Grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and get comfy. You need to go through your transaction history line by line. This is one of those moments where you can’t afford to rush. No shortcuts, my friend. Go slow.

What I did—sitting there at 2 AM, with my phone in hand—was methodically go through each purchase. That’s when I saw the flight to Chicago. On a day I was in a totally different state. Yikes.

You’ll want to:

• Check every single purchase.
• Look for multiple charges from the same place.
• Notice anything that seems like a pattern.

It’s tedious, but part of what to do if your credit card information is stolen.

Step 4: Notify the Credit Bureaus. Trust Me.

Okay, so you’ve blocked the card. Now let’s talk about your credit report. You know, that thing you check once a year and forget about until disaster strikes? Yeah, that.

Credit bureaus need to know about the theft too. Here’s why: it makes it harder for thieves to open up new accounts in your name. I learned this the hard way after an ex tried to use my info to buy a boat. No, really. A freakin’ boat.

The Big Three Bureaus:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742

Call ‘em up and ask to put a fraud alert on your file. This can stop the fraudsters from opening accounts under your name. Basically, it’s like locking the front door while you’re out.

Step 5: Report Identity Theft to the FTC

Oh, you thought you were done? Ha. Here’s the deal. The FTC needs to know too. They’re like the watchdogs for fraud. They’ll take your information and add it to the big ol’ database. This is a must in what to do if your credit card information is stolen.

You can file an official report with them through IdentityTheft.gov. Takes about 10 minutes, and it’ll come in handy later when you’re disputing charges.

Step 6: Freeze Your Credit (No, Really)

So, now you’ve reported it, but here’s the secret sauce. A fraud alert is good, but freezing your credit is better. It basically puts a brick wall up. No one—not even you—can open a new account using your info without unfreezing it.

You want to go ahead and do that with the credit bureaus. They’ll give you a PIN to unfreeze it if you need to apply for a new credit card, but right now? Freeze. The. Account.

Step 7: Change All Your Passwords (And Use Two-Factor Authentication)

Don’t skip this one. It’s tempting to say, “I’ll change it later,” but then you’ll forget. And guess what? Thieves don’t forget.

So, go through your banking login, your shopping accounts, your email, even those random subscription services you signed up for at 2 AM in a caffeine-fueled haze. Change all of ‘em. All of ‘em.

And hey, while you’re at it, activate two-factor authentication. That’ll make it way harder for someone to hijack your accounts. Trust me, I’ve been hacked—twice—and the second time, I was using 2FA. It worked.

Step 8: Dispute the Charges. Seriously. Don’t Be Shy.

Now that you’ve blocked your card, reported the fraud, and changed every password you could think of, the last part is fighting the charges. Call your bank and file a formal dispute.

Gather your evidence—like that FTC report, or a list of the fraudulent charges—and get to work.

Step 9: Watch Your Accounts Like a Hawk

Alright, things seem under control now, right? Maybe. But don’t kick back just yet. Fraudsters are sneaky. They may try again. And even though your card is frozen, they might still target your account through other means.

Set up monitoring alerts and regularly check your accounts for a while. That’s part of what to do if your credit card information is stolen—keeping an eye on things for the next few months. Or years. Or… forever. Y’know, fun stuff.

Step 10: Report It to the Police (Optional but Helpful)

This one’s a bit of a gray area. Not everyone needs to report to the police, but if you’re dealing with a big fraud case (like, say, $10K worth of purchases from a place you’ve never even heard of), the cops might want to know.

What to Bring to the Police:

• The FTC report
• A printout of your fraudulent charges
• Any communication with your bank

It’s like backing up your claim with extra paperwork. If you’re lucky, they might track down the crook. Or not. But either way, it’s better to have all your ducks in a row.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let It Get to You

Getting your credit card information stolen is a pain in the butt. But once it’s all sorted, you move on. Don’t beat yourself up over it. I know, I did, and it didn’t make anything better.

So, if this happens to you, now you’ve got the playbook. Just follow these steps. You’ll be back to normal in no time. And hey, at least you’ll have a crazy story to tell.

There you go. You’ve read what to do if your credit card information is stolen 30 times, and now you’ve got the full play-by-play. You might be tired of hearing it, but trust me, if this happens to you, you’ll be glad it’s all fresh in your head.