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First, separate possible exposure from confirmed fraud
You do not need to wait for a suspicious transaction before acting. But the next steps depend on whether information may have been exposed or an account has already been used.
- Possible exposure, no visible fraud: contact the relevant institution, secure credentials and recovery channels, review recent activity, and consider credit protections if someone could use your identity to apply for new credit.
- Unauthorized activity or missing money: contact the bank or credit union’s fraud department immediately, report the transaction, and ask how to dispute it. Keep records of the report and follow-up.
This guidance is for U.S. consumers and reflects federal agency guidance. Rules and agencies may differ elsewhere. The outcome can depend on the payment type and circumstances; these steps do not guarantee reimbursement.
Contact your bank or credit union using a trusted channel
Use the institution’s official app, the number printed on your card or statement, or a website address you enter yourself. Do not use a link or phone number from an unexpected text, email, or call. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warns that scammers impersonate financial institutions and government agencies.
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Tell the fraud department what may have been exposed, when you believe it happened, and whether you see unfamiliar activity. Ask what the institution recommends for your specific case: locking access, replacing a card, changing credentials, stopping payments, or closing and replacing an account. There is no single bank workflow that fits every case, so follow the institution’s case-specific instructions.
Write down the time of your call, the representative’s name, and any case or confirmation number. Ask how to dispute any unauthorized transaction and how to submit supporting documents. Preserve screenshots, messages, and notices related to the incident.
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If a transfer or card transaction is unauthorized, report it promptly
For certain electronic transfers, the CFPB says when you notify your bank can affect potential liability under federal rules. Its guidance, last reviewed in 2026, gives these examples:
- Lost or stolen debit card or security code: reporting within two business days can limit liability to the lesser of the unauthorized amount or $50. Waiting longer can raise potential liability to $500 in the circumstances described by the CFPB.
- Unauthorized transfer shown on a statement: report the error within 60 days of the statement being sent.
These are summaries of specific situations, not a promise that every kind of fraud or payment follows the same rule. Contact your bank as soon as you notice a problem, even if you are unsure which rule applies. Keep the date and method of your report, and request written confirmation of any dispute.
Secure the affected account and the routes used to recover it
- Change the affected password from a device you trust. Use a unique password that you do not use elsewhere.
- Change every reused password, starting with email and phone-service accounts. Access to those accounts may let someone reset other passwords.
- Update recovery details such as backup email addresses and phone numbers, and review account settings for unfamiliar changes.
- Turn on two-factor authentication wherever the provider offers it. Never share a verification code with an unsolicited caller or texter. The FTC recommends strong passwords and two-factor authentication; it also describes physical security keys as an optional second factor. Check that your bank and email provider support a key and its connection type before relying on one.
- Review recent activity and statements for unfamiliar transfers, payments, payees, profile changes, or contact-detail changes. Save relevant records.
If personal information may be used for identity theft
Go to IdentityTheft.gov if you suspect identity theft or misuse of personal information. The FTC service asks questions about what happened and provides an Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan tailored to your situation. Save the report and plan, along with notices, correspondence, and a dated log of calls and other contacts.
If a company asks for an FTC report or requires a particular dispute form, follow its documented process and keep copies of everything you submit and receive. If you discover that someone opened a checking account in your name, IdentityTheft.gov advises requesting a ChexSystems report and contacting the institution involved.
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Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze for new-account risk
If your information could be used to open credit accounts, a fraud alert or a credit freeze may help address that risk. They do not stop unauthorized withdrawals from an existing bank account.
| Protection | What it does | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud alert | Asks creditors to take steps to verify your identity before opening credit. A free initial alert lasts one year. | Place it with one nationwide credit bureau; that bureau must notify the other two. Details are available from the FTC. |
| Credit freeze | Restricts access to your credit report for new-credit applications. | Contact each of the three nationwide credit bureaus to place a freeze. See the FTC’s freeze and fraud-alert guidance. |
Review your credit reports for accounts you do not recognize. A freeze or alert is a credit-report protection, not a substitute for notifying a bank about a compromised deposit account.
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Do not move money because an unexpected caller tells you to
Do not transfer money to a supposed “safe” account, withdraw cash, buy gold, or disclose a verification code in response to an unsolicited call or message. Hang up and contact the bank or agency using details you obtained independently. The CFPB’s identity-theft guidance says: “The FTC never threatens you, makes you transfer your money to ‘protect’ it, or tells you to withdraw cash or buy gold and give it to someone.”
Keep a recovery record
Maintain one dated record of every call, letter, dispute, account closure or replacement, and response. Keep copies of reports, statements, screenshots, and forms. This makes it easier to track deadlines, explain the sequence of events, and respond if the bank, a creditor, or a government agency asks for documentation.
Federal guidance cited here does not establish the rules for every payment or account type, including checks, wires, peer-to-peer transfers, business accounts, or investment accounts. Ask the financial institution which process applies to your transaction and consult the relevant official agency guidance for your situation.
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