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  1. Identity Theft
  2. Scams

How To Protect Your Credit Cards From Scammers

By: Chris Pearson
Chris Pearson
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Editor: Marcela Otero Costa
Marcela Otero Costa, expert in Personal finance, consumer advocacy, editing, SEO best practices, and Content Director at Money
Marcela Otero Costa
Content Director | Joined February 2021
Before working as Content Director, Marcela was writing and editing articles about personal finance and consumer advocacy at Money Group since 2017, focusing on guiding people through important financial decisions. She holds an MA in Translation from the University of Puerto Rico.
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Published: Mar 30, 2023 15 min read

Credit cards are essential financial tools that make life much easier, allowing people to purchase goods and services and, in some cases, earn rewards. However, credit card fraud is a growing concern that everyone needs to be aware of. No one wants to open a credit card statement and find thousands of dollars worth of unknown charges. If you use credit cards at all, you should know what credit card fraud is, how it can occur, and, most importantly, how to protect your credit cards from scammers.

Credit card protection begins with exercising caution when using them. Only use your credit card on secure websites and with reputable merchants. Never give your credit card information to anyone over the phone or through email, and be wary of unsolicited offers or requests for personal information.

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What is credit card fraud?

Credit card fraud occurs when someone uses your credit card details to make unauthorized purchases or accesses your funds without your knowledge or consent. Victims of fraud may suffer financial losses, a damaged credit score and an array of other issues. Fraudulent activity can range from small unauthorized charges to large purchases made by someone who has stolen your credit card information.

If you notice any unauthorized charges on your statement, report the credit card fraud immediately if you need to dispute a credit card charge. Your credit card issuer will investigate the charges and, if they are found to be fraudulent, will typically remove them from your account. Monitoring your credit history is another way to catch suspicious activity. Many of the companies on our list of the best identity theft protection services make this task easy.

How can credit card fraud occur?

Some of the ways in which credit card fraud can happen are stealing actual cards, hacking into accounts, phishing scams and credit card skimming.

Physical theft

Physical theft is one of the most straightforward ways that credit card fraud can occur. A thief steals your wallet or purse or may physically take your credit card from you. Once they have the physical card, they use it to purchase goods or services or withdraw cash from your account.

Protecting yourself from physical theft can be tricky. Don't make yourself an easy target by flashing money or cards around while in public. Keep your wallet or purse in a safe place. But also remember that if a thief threatens you, no amount of money is worth your physical safety.

Account hacking