Finding strange purchases on your card can be concerning, as no one likes to learn they have been a victim of credit card fraud.

Credit card fraud happens every day, despite the fact that some people may never experience it. You could be wondering how and where your card was compromised. Was that gas station out in the boonies? Perhaps the internet retailer where you purchased your clothing? It can, in fact, be challenging to determine.

4 steps to take if you’re a victim of credit card fraud

1. Call the company

Call your credit card company immediately

First and foremost, it’s important to get ahead of the criminals using your card before they can inflict more damage.

Major card networks like Visa and Mastercard have “zero liability” policies designed to ensure that you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your credit or debit card or account information.

2. Change Your Password

Your best bet is to exercise caution. After you call your credit card company, make sure you check all of your other credit card accounts to see if they’ve also been compromised.

It’s important to note that, even though only one card may have suspicious charges, you can’t be sure how the fraudster got the information. So make sure you change all of your passwords and PINs just to be safe.

3. Notify Police If Necessary

Filing a police report is especially crucial if you see a pattern of fraudulent charges in the days following the first signs of suspicious activity. Sometimes credit card fraud can happen all at once, and other times it might be days or weeks apart.

4. Monitor your statements and credit reports

After the first signs of credit card fraud, you’ll want to keep monitoring your credit card statements for a few months. Fraudulent charges can keep appearing on your card statements months after your card information is stolen if there was any additional information, such as login credentials, that may have been compromised.