I lost my credit card. It may be stolen. Please help!
It happens to everyone: you can easily misplace your wallet, leave your credit card at a restaurant, and more. So what should you do if you lose your credit card, or suspect your credit card was stolen? Here are some quick tips to help you ensure your credit card account stays safe and reduce your credit card fraud risk:
What to Do If You Lost Your Credit Card
- Call the credit card company immediately. You can find their number on an old credit card statement (or online through their website). You need to let them know the situation immediately. They can then block your account, deactivate the old card, and mail you a new card with a totally new account number.
- Monitor your bill for any suspicious charges that may show up. If any do, call your credit card company (and possibly the company that charged your card) and file a fraud report if necessary.
- If anyone steals and/or uses your credit card fraudulently, it would be a good idea to let the credit card company know, and in addition, file a police report with the local authorities.
- NEVER write a pin or account password on your credit card at any time. This seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people will write their pin number right on the credit card, in their wallet, or on the credit card protective sleeve. While it may be convenient for you to do so, it is also extremely convenient for the thieves!
If you follow those basic 4 tips, you can minimize any damages, and possibly avoid any fraud or mishaps altogether. Always make a good habit of keeping your credit card and account numbers secure. Also, keep a list of the account numbers and phone numbers just in case you ever need to do this. Or keep your statements if they have this information on them.
It is important to act very quickly if you suspect you’ve lost your credit card, or that your credit card could be in the hands of a thief.