Credit Card Theft & Fraud

• Credit Card Theft is the taking or obtaining of credit card(s), or credit card number(s), with the intent to use them fraudulently.
• Credit Card Fraud occurs when the credit card, or credit card number(s), are used fraudulently without the consent of the cardholder.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: If one or more of your credit card accounts has fraudulent transactions, and you still have the physical credit card in your possession, than you have likely become the victim of identity theft. 
  • If someone signed a credit card receipt or draft, paper or electronic, this constitutes a separate offense of credit card forgery. Please ensure you keep copies of any records you have showing fraudulent transactions. 
  • Important information to provide the investigator includes the full credit card number, time, date, and location of the fraud. 

Examples of credit card theft and fraud

• Your wallet is lost or stolen and purchases are made on your credit card without your consent.
• An unauthorized purchase appears on your credit card statement from an online retailer.

• If you give someone your credit card and they charge more than you authorized, this may not be a crime. Many credit card user agreements explain that when you authorize someone to use your card, they become an "authorized user." 
• An authorized user continues to use their card on an account after a couple has split. If you inadvertently enter into an agreement with a company and they charge your credit card monthly, you have a civil matter with that company. No crime has been committed if you failed to read the small print. 

• Credit Card theft and fraud has several jurisdictional issues that may cause your case to be redirected to another jurisdiction. As a rule of thumb, a report should be filed where your credit cards were lost or stolen, and where they were fraudulently used. This may mean multiple reports are filed with multiple jurisdictions.

If you are an Arlington County resident and your credit cards were used fraudulently, file an online report and we will provide you with more information. Often times, a police report is needed by your financial institution to prove a fraud has occurred.

• Cancel your accounts right away. Call your financial institutions and ask to speak with a fraud specialist. Make sure you document the details of your phone call and obtain their contact information. Follow up with them in writing by filing an affidavit of fraud (usually provided by them). 
  • Make sure you send all information in a certified letter to the financial institution. 
  • Make sure to request in your letter that the company notifies you in writing when they have resolved your needs. 
  • File a police report with the correct jurisdiction. 
  • Contact the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies and place a Fraud Alert on your credit report.
  • Once you place a fraud alert, creditors are required to verify the identity of a person claiming to be you, before extending credit to them. 

• Sign your credit card with permanent marker. 
• Maintain possession of your credit cards at all times. 
• Check your credit card statements for fraudulent transactions. 
• Keep credit card numbers and records in a safe place. 
• When making purchases online, only use trusted, reputable sites. If it sounds "too good to be true" than it probably is. 
• Do not send photos of credit cards to anyone. 
• If you lose or misplace your credit card, cancel it immediately. 
• If you pay with a credit card attempt to keep it in sight if possible. 
• If using an ATM/debit card. If possible use the credit feature, this can generally be activated by pressing enter on a keypad when it asks for a pin number.