Last reviewed: June 1, 2026 · Written by James Carter, Consumer Rights Researcher · Independent resource — not a government site
Report credit card fraud immediately to your card issuer at the number on the back of your card. File a police report and report to the FTC at identitytheft.gov. Act within 60 days to avoid liability.
Quick answer: Report credit card fraud immediately to your card issuer at the number on the back of your card (available 24/7). File a police report and report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. Under federal law, you have zero liability if you report within 60 days.
Credit card fraud affects over 390,000 Americans every year and results in $149 million in losses. Acting quickly is critical — federal law limits your liability to $50 if reported within 2 days, and zero if reported within 60 days of receiving your statement.
Do This Immediately (First 10 Minutes)
Before anything else: call your card issuer, freeze your card, and dispute all unauthorized charges. Do this before researching or reading further — every minute counts when fraud is active.
Where to Report Credit Card Fraud
| Type of Fraud | Who to Contact | Contact Method |
|---|---|---|
| Unauthorized charges on your card | Your card issuer (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) | Number on back of card (24/7) |
| Identity theft + credit fraud | FTC IdentityTheft.gov | identitytheft.gov |
| All fraud types | Local police department | Non-emergency line or 311 |
| Freeze all three credit bureaus | Equifax, Experian, TransUnion | annualcreditreport.com |
| Credit card account takeover | Your card issuer + FTC | Card issuer + identitytheft.gov |
How to Report Credit Card Fraud Step by Step
- Call your card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of your card (not a number from an email or text). Report every unauthorized charge. The issuer will freeze your card, issue a new one, and open a fraud investigation.
- Dispute all unauthorized charges in writing. Follow up your phone call with a written dispute letter within 60 days of your statement date. Send via certified mail and keep a copy. This protects your rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
- File a police report. Visit your local police station or file online if available. Get a copy of the report — you’ll need the report number for credit bureau disputes and insurance claims.
- Report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. File an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov. This creates an official FTC Identity Theft Report that you can use with creditors and law enforcement.
- Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with all three bureaus. Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A fraud alert is free and lasts one year. A credit freeze is stronger and completely blocks new credit applications.
- Review all your credit card and bank statements. Check the last 60 days for any other unauthorized activity. Fraudsters often test small charges before making larger ones.
- Monitor your credit reports for 12 months. Get free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Check for new accounts you didn’t open or inquiries you don’t recognize. Dispute anything suspicious immediately.
- Update passwords on all financial accounts. Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your bank, credit card, and investment accounts. Use unique passwords for each account.
Your Liability for Credit Card Fraud
| When You Report | Maximum Liability |
|---|---|
| Before any unauthorized charges occur | $0 |
| Within 2 business days of discovering loss | $50 |
| Within 60 days of your statement | $0 (under Visa/MC zero liability) |
| After 60 days of your statement | Unlimited (you may be liable for all charges) |
Frequently Asked Questions
For related guides see: How to Report Identity Theft, How to Report an Online Scam, and our Fraud & Scams Reporting Hub.