One of the scariest things that could happen to you is seeing strange bank charges that you did not authorize or initiate, the fear that comes with this is unmatched. You start to worry about how much of your money will be gone by the next minute, how this even happened and how you can stop it?
Sadly, there are several reports of credit card fraud every year and different methods by which thieves commit this fraud. It can either be done by stealing your physical card, your pins or account numbers, or even getting a new credit card in your name. One of the most common ways that a thief might use your card or card details is online because this only requires your credit card numbers, it makes the job a lot easier.
This article will be discussing some of the methods one can use to deal with such an issue as well as preventive measures to protect yourself and loved ones from credit card fraud.
Someone Used My Credit Card Online Can I Track Them?
Yes, you can track someone who used your credit card online with the help of your bank. Once you notice weird activity on your bank account, the first step to take would be to call your bank and report the situation, explaining what you noticed. In most cases, this would help them gain control over the situation, refund whatever was stolen from your account and help you track the perp.
However, you can only track the use of your card, your bank will probably not be able to track the location of the thief in question.
How Can Someone Use My Debit Card Without Having It?
A thief can use your debit card without having it by simply stealing your debit card information. There are different ways that this can be done. They can hack into a merchant’s site to steal your information and then create a fake card, they could also do something called ‘phishing’ i.e. posing as your bank to get your personal information.
Some other ways your debit card information might be obtained is by putting a skimmer on a gas pump, POS machine, or ATM, swiping your card twice – first to complete payment and the second to steal your info – or by setting up phony pin pads. Either of these methods can be used to steal your information to make a fake card that can then be used online, at stores or ATMs.
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How to Catch Someone Who Stole Your Credit Card
To catch someone who stole your credit card, first, you should call your credit card issuer to report the theft of your card. You can get the number of your credit card issuer online or from your bank statement. If you make a report before the card is used, you will not be liable for any unauthorized charges. In other cases, your liability for unauthorized charges would be limited to $50. However, in cases where it can be proved that you were being negligent, you might not get all your money back.
When making the call to your card issuer, you should be ready with the necessary information, as your identity will need to be confirmed. Your recent transactions will then be reviewed to check for fraudulence, then your issuer will cancel your account and send you a new card.
After making the call to your credit card issuer, you should also send a follow-up email including your account information, stating that you have reported the issue. Keep an eye on your credit card statement after losing your card to ensure there are no unauthorized transactions on your account and if there are, you should call your issuer immediately.
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Can the Bank Find Out Who Used My Debit Card?
Yes, the bank can find out who charged your debit card. Once you notice a bank charge that you did not authorize, you should call your bank immediately requesting details of the debit card transaction. Your bank will be able to provide the company name, transaction ID, and phone number. If you still do not recognize the transaction, you can put a call through to the company that charged your card and request a refund. If this request is rejected, you should call your bank immediately and report a case of debit card fraud.
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Someone Stole My Credit Card, Can I Press Charges?
Yes, you can press charges against someone who stole your credit card. Reporting to the police is one of the first steps you should take when your credit card is stolen, your bank will need to be contacted but filing a police report will help you catch the thief and press charges. If this is done before the card is used for any unauthorized transactions, you will not be liable.
If you are wondering ‘someone used my credit card online can I track them?’ the answer is Yes, your bank would be responsible for tracking the use of your credit card either online or offline.
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How to Protect Yourself from Credit Card Fraud
Here are a few ways to protect yourself from credit card fraud:
- Do not leave your credit card lying around and always be careful with your purse or wallet
- Do not use ATMs in sketchy areas, use only bank ATMs
- Use only secure websites
- Do not give your account or personal information to anyone over the phone without proper verification
- Keep your social security card and credit cards you don’t use safely at home unless you need to use them
- Monitor your bank statements and apps regularly
- Monitor your card carefully while making in-person transactions
- Destroy old credit cards
- Use strong passwords and develop a habit of changing your passwords often
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi for transactions
- Don’t be careless with receipts
- Opt for paperless bank statements
- Never write down your pin or share it
As much as we might like to believe that following all these steps will save us from being victims of credit or debit card theft, it is safe to say that we can only try to protect ourselves and our loved ones as opposed to not doing anything at all or even worse – being negligent.
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