At a minimum, make sure you have your bank account number and debit card number handy. If you think your information was stolen as part of a data breach at a retailer, it may be enough to simply tell your bank that you shopped at that location during the dates of the breach and your account may be compromised. [2] X Research source [3] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
For example, Wells Fargo has several different toll-free phone numbers depending on whether your account is a business account or a personal account, and the specific product to which the suspected fraud applies. [4] X Research source Typically banks have a toll-free number you can call at any time 24 hours a day, so you can alert your bank the moment your debit card or account information has been compromised. [5] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source If you can’t find the number, you also can call the general customer service number or stop into a branch and speak to someone personally. After you’ve called and reported the suspected fraud, send a written letter that summarizes your report of the fraud and what the bank representative said would be done to counteract it. [6] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
Federal law limits your liability for transactions processed with your stolen card number after you report it. [7] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Website with up-to-date information for consumers from the Federal Trade Commisson Go to source It’s important for you to act as quickly as possible once you learn of the fraud or theft. You can only be held liable for up to $50 of unauthorized charges if you report the fraud within two days of its occurrence. However, if you wait longer than that, you may be liable for up to $500. [8] X Trustworthy Source Better Business Bureau Nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting marketplace trustworthiness by educating consumers and reviewing businesses Go to source Additionally, federal law gives your bank 10 days to investigate fraud involving your bank account and restore any stolen funds. In the meantime, you’ll be out any money that was removed from your account to cover a fraudulent transaction. In contrast, you can withhold payment during credit card disputes. [9] X Trustworthy Source Better Business Bureau Nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting marketplace trustworthiness by educating consumers and reviewing businesses Go to source
If you have online access to your account, check the transactions at least once a day. Report even the smallest unauthorized transaction right away. Keep in mind that fraudulent charges may continue to occur even months after the original incident of fraud. [10] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
You can always walk into your local precinct and file a report in person. Additionally, some police departments have online forms you can fill out and submit to report financial fraud. Contact information for local law enforcement agencies nationwide is available at https://www. usacops. com.
You might want to review your state’s law to understand what constitutes fraud. Police investigate crimes and won’t conduct further investigation into your report if it doesn’t provide any evidence on its face that a crime was committed. Generally, criminal fraud is theft by deception. The person or business must have intentionally provided you with false information to deceive you into giving them financial information so they could steal from you. [11] X Research source
Include a chronological description of everything that occurred, including any behavior or statements that led you to believe the transaction was fraudulent. Make sure your description is as detailed as possible, with dates and times if you can remember those specifically. If the bank fraud involves possible identity theft, you should submit your report in person and bring along proof of your identity and current address such as a driver’s license. [12] X Research source
If you’ve already talked to a bank representative about the fraudulent activity on your account, follow up by providing a copy of the police report to your bank as well. [13] X Research source If you have to file any affidavits with any other businesses or banks, you also will need to attach a copy of the police report. [14] X Research source
Assuming you have a reference number for your report, you can call the police department to check on the status of your complaint or find out if any investigation is taking place.
In addition to helping you resolve your specific complaint, the CFPB also compiles a database of complaint information for public consumption. The complaint information included in the database does not include any of your personal information. [15] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source Complaint information also is shared with federal and state law enforcement agencies. [16] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
If your complaint relates to your debit card or checking account, you typically would choose “bank account or service. " You may wish to choose a different option if a credit card was also involved. [17] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
Include any information that would help the CFPB understand the problem you’re having so they are better able to assist you. [18] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
The CFPB will be forwarding your complaint to your bank, so there must be enough information for your bank to identify you and work with the CFPB to resolve your problems. [19] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
You also can submit a complaint to the CFPB by calling 855-411-CFPB. [20] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source After you submit your complaint, you’ll receive a confirmation email from the CFPB with log-in information so you can track your complaint’s status. [21] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
Banks are generally expected to resolve a complaint within 60 days. [22] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source The CFPB will send you an email notification when there’s a change in your complaint’s status or any new information is added. This way you don’t have to keep logging in and checking. [23] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
Depending on your problem, your bank may communicate with you directly to resolve the situation, or may communicate through the CFPB. [24] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source The CFPB may determine that another agency is better able to assist you with your issue. If that’s the case, the CFPB will update you on the status of your complaint and forward the information to that agency. [25] X Trustworthy Source US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau U. S. government agency for protecting consumers in the financial sector Go to source
Although regulatory agencies such as the FTC don’t investigate or resolve individual complaints, they compile your information into databases that are used by federal, state, and local law enforcement to uncover patterns of criminal activity. [26] X Research source
If you’re unsure about where to place your complaint, you can use the sub-categories to better understand the types of complaints within each category. There is an “other” category if the suspected fraud you’ve encountered doesn’t fit into one of the FTC’s categories, or isn’t accurately described by any of the sub-categories. [27] X Research source
You don’t have to provide personal or contact information for yourself. However, if you choose to remain anonymous, the FTC or other regulatory or law enforcement agencies will be unable to contact you if your complaint becomes the focus of further investigation. [29] X Research source As part of the complaint process, you have the opportunity to describe the fraudulent incident in your own words. As you do so, avoid including any personal details or sensitive information such as your bank account or Social Security number in the description itself. [30] X Research source
Once you’re satisfied that the information you entered is complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge, you should print a copy of your complaint for your records. [31] X Research source
