The sooner you report any incidents, the better off you’ll be. If your information has been skimmed, take these steps:
1. Immediately alert the card issuer or bank
Do this first, so you can cancel the card and cut off access. Depending on your card issuer or bank, you may be able to report fraud via the app or website – but to speed things up, call the number on the back of your card. They’ll be able to cancel it quickly and send you a new one.
At Chime, you can contact customer service and speak to a human 24/7 via in-app messaging, phone call, or email.
2. Set up fraud alerts
Set up free fraud alerts with each of the three main credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. With these in place, criminals who have obtained your information shouldn’t be able to open new accounts or take out loans in your name. Just cancel the alert when you’re ready.
3. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission
File a report on the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov website if you know you’ve been the victim of credit card skimming fraud. This database is a resource used by law enforcement when doing deeper fraud investigations.
4. Inform the business where the skimming occurred
Provide the merchant with as much detail on the skimmer location and what it looked like (if you remember) – this helps protect their business and other consumers. Consider checking your state for a submission form in which you can report the card skimmer fraud. For example, Texas has a skimmer form for residents.
5. Keep monitoring your accounts
Set up account activity alerts and check your statements, so you stay aware of any fraudulent activity.
