If you’ve been the victim of a credit card scam, you’re not alone. Credit card scams are becoming more and more common, as scammers find new and innovative ways to steal your money. But don’t worry, there are steps you can take to recover from a credit card scam and protect yourself in the future. In this blog post, we will discuss what to do if someone steals your credit card information, and how to prevent future credit card scams.

Credit card scams can be difficult to detect, as scammers are often very skilled at impersonating bank officials and credit card companies. A credit card scam involves the use of a stolen or counterfeit credit card to make unauthorized purchases. Scammers may also use stolen card information to open new accounts in your name and run up charges on those accounts.

Immediate Action Steps

If you think you may have been the victim of a credit card scam, it is important to take action right away to protect yourself and your finances. Here are some steps to take if someone steals your credit card number: 

• Keep all documentation related to the scam, including any emails, messages or receipts. This will be helpful if you need to file a police report or take legal action against the scammer.
• Contact your credit card company right away using information you find on their legitimate website. They will be able to help you take action on any compromised accounts.
• If you provided personal information, like your Social Security number, you may be at risk for identity theft. Contact your bank or credit card company to make them aware. Then, contact the three major credit reporting agencies and place a fraud alert on your credit reports. This will make it harder for the scammer to open new accounts in your name.
• Change all your passwords to strong passphrases, especially if you think the scammer may have access to your accounts.
• Monitor your credit reports and credit card statements for any unusual activity.

Reporting a Credit Card Scam

Reporting any type of cybercrime, including credit card scams, is imperative to help others avoid scams. As a society, the more people that report online scams and fraud, the more national reporting data that is collected. With more data, law enforcement has a better chance at catching the criminals and decreasing cybercrime.

After following the above immediate action steps, report these crimes to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). 

By taking these steps, you can protect yourself from further financial damage and begin to recover from a credit card scam.

Learn more about other types of financial scams by visiting our financial purchase scams page.