Usually, this means that someone has stolen your debit card or they have somehow skimmed the number and have access to your checking account. It is important to act quickly to protect yourself and to stop any further unauthorized charges. Follow these six steps if you find an unauthorized charge on your account.

How do I stop fraudulent charges on my debit card?

Nine Ways To Protect Yourself

1. Get Banking Alerts.
2. Go Paperless.
3. Don’t Make Purchases With Your Debit Card.
4. Stick to Bank ATMs.
5. Destroy Old Debit Cards.
6. Don’t Keep All Your Money in One Place.
7. Beware of Phishing Scams.
8. Protect Your Computer and Mobile Devices.

What to do if you get a fraudulent charge on your debit card?

Call your bank or card issuer ASAP to report the fraudulent charges. (Just be sure to examine your statement carefully prior to calling so that you can run through all the suspicious charges at once.) Your liability and next steps depend on whether the charge was made on a credit or debit card:

What does it mean when someone steals your debit card number?

Debit card fraud occurs when a criminal gains access to your debit card number (and in some cases PIN) to make unauthorized purchases and/or withdraw cash from your account.

How are merchants protected from credit card fraud?

Protecting consumers from credit card fraud requires all hands on deck, with merchants, banks, credit card companies, credit reporting agencies, law enforcement, and consumers all having an important role to play. Merchants can support their customers by implementing robust fraud protection solutions.

What happens when you dispute a debit card charge?

In a credit card dispute, you have the option to withhold payment. When you dispute a debit card purchase, your bank is deciding whether or not to restore money that’s already left your account. You’re more likely to succeed in disputing a debit charge if you act quickly and support your argument with evidence such as receipts.