Having your credit card stolen is stressful, but credit card fraud protections in 2025 are stronger than ever. If you act quickly, you can stop unauthorized charges, prevent identity theft, and protect your financial accounts completely. This guide walks you through exactly what to do the moment you realize your card is missing or someone else has used it.

Whether your physical card was stolen, your digital wallet was compromised, or your card number was used online, this step-by-step guide shows you how to stay safe and regain control.

1. Stay Calm and Act Fast

Credit card fraud moves quickly, but so do fraud protection systems. Staying calm and taking the right steps immediately ensures:

Fraud charges are removed
Your account is secured
No additional damage occurs

Credit card networks have zero liability policies, meaning you will not pay for unauthorized transactions as long as you report them promptly.

For more on your rights and protections, see the FTC’s guide to stolen cards.

2. Lock or Freeze Your Card Immediately

The very first step is to prevent new charges.

Most banks allow instant card locking through their mobile apps. This temporarily disables your card to block:

New transactions
Tap to pay or contactless payments
Online purchases

If your phone was stolen with the card, access your account from another device or computer.

Examples of locking your card:

Capital One Lock Card Feature
Chase Freeze and Unfreeze Cards
Bank of America Lock Your Debit or Credit Card

Locking your card buys you critical time while you contact your issuer.

3. Contact Your Credit Card Issuer

After locking your card, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card or from their official website/app.

Tell them:

Your credit card was stolen or lost
You did not authorize certain charges
You want a replacement card

They will:

Close your card account to stop new charges
Reverse fraudulent transactions
Mail a new card with a new number

Most lenders ship emergency replacement cards within 24 to 48 hours.

See the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s advice on credit card fraud for more details.

4. Review Recent Transactions Carefully

Fraudsters often start with small charges to test your card before making larger purchases.

Look over your account for any unauthorized activity such as:

Small “test” charges
Out of state transactions
Online purchases you didn’t make
Subscription sign-ups you didn’t authorize
Cash advances

If you find any suspicious charges, report each one to your issuer immediately.

Fraud can come in clusters, so multiple transactions may be fraudulent.

Refer to FTC’s tips on reviewing transactions.

5. File a Fraud Report With Your Bank

Banks will open an official fraud investigation.

During this process:

Your old card is blocked permanently
The bank refunds fraudulent charges
Merchant information is reviewed
Merchants are notified the charges are fraudulent

Under federal law (Truth in Lending Act):

Your maximum liability for unauthorized credit card charges is zero dollars if reported promptly.
You do not pay for fraud charges.

See FTC’s guide to liability limits for more.

6. Update Your Autopay Accounts

If your stolen card was used for subscriptions or automatic payments (Netflix, Hulu, phone bill, utilities, insurance, gyms, cloud storage, etc.), these payments may fail once your card is closed.

Update each service with your new card number to avoid missed payments or interruptions.

7. Change Your Passwords and Security Questions

If your credit card was stolen during phone theft, email compromise, digital wallet hack, or phishing, your online accounts may also be at risk.

Change passwords for:

Your credit card issuer’s online account
Your email account
Your bank accounts
Your digital wallets
Any other accounts connected to your card

Use strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider a reputable password manager to generate and store passwords securely.

For guidance, see NIST’s password recommendations.

8. Check Your Digital Wallet for Unauthorized Devices

Criminals may add your card to their device if they have some of your info.

Review connected devices in:

Remove any unfamiliar or unauthorized devices immediately.

9. Check Your Credit Report for Suspicious Activity

If your card was stolen physically, the problem is usually limited to the card.

But if your card number was stolen online, or if your email or phone was hacked, your identity may be at risk.

Check your credit reports with the three major bureaus:

Look for:

New accounts you did not open
Hard inquiries you did not authorize
Addresses or personal info that are not yours

Dispute anything suspicious immediately.

You can get free annual credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.

10. Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze (If Needed)

If you suspect identity theft, take further action by placing a fraud alert or freezing your credit.

Fraud Alert
Alerts lenders to verify your identity before approving new credit.
Free, lasts 1 year (extendable).
Set up at FTC Fraud Alerts.
Credit Freeze
Blocks all new credit activity until you lift it.
Stronger protection than fraud alerts.
Set up at:
Experian Credit Freeze
Equifax Credit Freeze
TransUnion Credit Freeze

11. File a Police Report (Only If Certain Conditions Apply)

You do not usually need a police report for credit card fraud.

However, file one if:

Your wallet or physical cards were stolen
Someone used your identity for other crimes
The theft involved burglary or robbery
Your lender requests a police report for their investigation

Check your local police department’s process for filing reports. The FTC has advice here: When to file a police report.

12. Monitor Your Accounts Daily for 30 Days

Fraud can happen in waves after your info leaks.

Watch for:

New small charges
Merchant test transactions
Account login attempts you don’t recognize
Password reset emails you didn’t request
New credit card warnings or declines

Most banks provide alerts for every purchase, new device login, or card-not-present transaction.

Turn on these alerts in your banking app or website.

13. Clean Up Your Digital Footprint

After card theft or fraud, secure your digital life to prevent future problems.

Steps:

Enable two-factor authentication where possible (Google 2FA, Apple 2FA)
Remove old devices from your accounts
Log out of accounts on shared or public computers
Update old passwords to strong, unique ones
Delete unused apps and accounts
Avoid saving card numbers on untrusted websites

14. When Will Your Credit Score Be Affected?

Good news: stolen credit cards do not hurt your credit score.

Fraudulent transactions:

Do not count as missed payments
Do not count toward your credit utilization
Are removed from your account once the bank issues credits

Your credit score remains intact once fraud is resolved.

15. How to Prevent Your Credit Card From Being Stolen Again

Tips:

Use your bank’s card lock or freeze feature when not using your card.
Avoid saving card numbers on websites except trusted ones.
Use virtual card numbers for online purchases if your bank offers them.
Use digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) instead of physical cards for safer transactions.
Avoid swiping cards at gas pumps or ATMs in unfamiliar or suspicious locations.
Keep your phone secure with Face ID, passcodes, or fingerprints.
Never click on suspicious emails or texts (phishing attempts).
Review bank alerts regularly for every purchase or sign-in.
Avoid public Wi-Fi for financial transactions.
Shred documents containing card info before disposal.

Final Thoughts

If your credit card is stolen in 2025, acting quickly can prevent almost all damage. With zero liability protections, instant card locking, digital wallet security, and strong fraud detection, you can protect yourself fully.

Report the theft immediately, lock your card, review transactions carefully, update your passwords, monitor accounts closely, and follow through until your replacement card arrives.

Credit card theft is frustrating, but with the right steps, it does not have to be financially harmful.

References

FTC: What To Do if Your Credit Card or Number Has Been Stolen
CFPB: What to do if your credit card was stolen or used fraudulently
FTC: Lost or Stolen Credit, ATM, and Debit Cards
AnnualCreditReport.com (Free credit reports)
IdentityTheft.gov Fraud Alerts and Credit Freeze
NIST Password Guidelines
Google 2FA Setup
Apple Two-Factor Authentication

Related: Signs of Credit Card Fraud