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How To Check if My Credit Card Has Been Hacked—9 Telltale Signs


How To Check if My Credit Card Has Been Hacked—9 Telltale Signs


When a data breach occurs on credit card accounts, many card owners are oblivious to it unless they use a credit monitoring service. It’s not until they attempt to make a purchase and get denied that they start digging deep to find the cause. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder—how to check if my credit card has been hacked.

Since time is always of the essence in mitigating the effects of credit card hacks, it is critical to know how to check for signs of fraudulent activity. In this article, we show you how to know if your credit card is hacked, what to do when your credit card is hacked, and what solutions to employ for better protection. 

How Do Credit Cards Get Hacked?

Credit card fraud is a prevalent financial crime in this modern age, and fraudsters have found a variety of ways to use stolen credit card information to their advantage.

Without ever having to see or hold your physical credit card, hackers can gain access to and use your credit card information wherever they are. So, even though physical credit card theft is still common, they have other remote methods to hack or use your credit card data. 

The table below offers an overview of the most popular credit card hacking methods:

Hacking MethodHow It Happens
PhishingHackers impersonate your issuing bank or credit card company and contact you to request your credit card information and other account details
Malware attackHackers trick you into accidentally downloading malware onto your device to gain access to your personal information, including credit card data
Card skimmingFraudsters use an offline method called skimming by installing a card skimmer at locations where you physically insert a credit card, including ATM card readers, gas stations, and point-of-sale systems
Wi-Fi interceptionHackers intercept vulnerable public Wi-Fi networks to steal sensitive information from people who may be transacting on the network
Shoulder surfingA bad actor watches over a card user’s shoulder to steal their card details, either by memorizing them or taking a picture

If you suspect that a hacker has compromised your credit card, immediately take steps to report the fraudulent credit card activity.

How To Know if Your Credit Card Is Hacked

Thoroughly understanding what happens if your card gets hacked will help you take prompt and precise steps to reduce the damages. To check if your credit card has been hacked or fallen into the wrong hands, look for any of these nine telltale signs:

  1. Unauthorized purchases on your account
  2. Multiple small charges on your account
  3. Lower credit limit than usual
  4. Payments from outside the country
  5. Purchase notifications for items you didn’t buy
  6. Missing mail
  7. Frequent spam calls or emails
  8. Changes on your account
  9. Declined card transactions

Unauthorized Purchases on Your Account

One of the first signs that your card has been compromised is unauthorized transactions on your account. 

To spot these transactions, thoroughly review your transaction history or billing statement. If you notice any transfer you didn’t authorize or transaction made under a different name, fraud may be at play. 

Think back on your past purchases and review your receipts to verify the legitimacy of the payments.

Multiple Small Charges on Your Account

Fraudsters try to remain undetected after they’ve successfully breached a card. They fly under the radar by making multiple small purchases to check if the account is active and funded. 

They know small purchases are easier to overlook and may not immediately attract attention. Once the hackers are comfortable enough, they may use the card to make a larger purchase.

Never overlook small charges on your account, especially if you don’t recognize the transactions—hackers may have compromised your account.

Lower Credit Limit Than Usual

To be on the safe side, it’s always important to check your available credit before making a purchase. This way, you avoid unknowingly exceeding your credit limit and reducing your credit score. If you check your available credit limit and notice a lower amount than expected, it may be a sign that someone else is transacting with your card. 

Go back to your account statement and transaction history to find any purchases or activities you don’t recognize. You could also confirm with your card issuer to ensure the reduction didn’t come from them.

Payments From Outside the Country

If you spot credit card purchases on your account from locations you haven’t visited, it’s a sign that a fraudster may have gotten your credit card details.

Any payment activity not geographically related to your usual spending locations is reason enough to raise eyebrows.

Purchase Notifications for Items You Didn’t Buy

If you receive a notification from your card issuer about an item you didn’t buy, it’s likely someone else is using your card. Always pay attention to your purchase notifications as they give you a detailed overview of what’s happening with your account in real time.

Missing Mail

One of the ways hackers gain access to your card details is by hacking your account and tweaking your personal information so that you can’t tell what’s going on. For example, they could change your mailing address and reroute the mail to their location so you no longer receive your credit card billing statement.

If you don’t have your account set up online, you’ll not be able to spot unauthorized purchases. To verify that nothing is missing, check your card statement online and call your card issuer to confirm your mailing address.

Frequent Spam Calls or Emails

One of the ways hackers profit from your credit card information is by selling it on the dark web. If this happens, you may start receiving an increased number of spam calls or emails within a short time. The scammers may call to assist you with your credit card account or offer other free services in exchange for more credit card information. 

Changes on Your Account

Check your credit card account information and look for signs of modifications. Confirm that there’s no change in your phone number, email address, or mailing address. If anything is altered, it could be a sign that someone has access to your account. Before you take action, verify your concerns by looking for other signs of fraud or account breach.

Declined Card Transactions

Most banks now have sophisticated fraud detection software to catch suspicious activity. If the tool picks up fraudulent transactions on your account, it may freeze your card, causing transactions to be declined. Another reason for declined cards is that the hacker may have maxed out your card.

If you’ve recently experienced a card being declined, reach out to your card issuer to verify that nothing is wrong. 

What To Do if Your Credit Card Is Hacked

If you notice any signs of compromise on your credit card, quickly do the following:

  • Contact your credit card issuer and request that they freeze your account to stop funds from being transferred out of it 
  • Contact major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your account so that card issuers check with you before approving new credit card applications in your name
  • Move your funds from your regular savings account into a fraud-protected storage platform like FortKnox to reduce the chances of losing your money. If the fraudsters have access to your financial information, it’s only a matter of time until they breach your savings or checking account and drain your funds
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