Credit card fraud

How credit card fraud happens

Credit card fraud happens when someone steals or uses your credit card or credit card information without your permission.

Your information or your card is used to:

A person might steal your credit card information by:

Protect yourself from credit card fraud

All credit cards issued in Canada now have a computer chip that makes transactions more secure. The computer chip works with your personal identification number (PIN) to make sure you give permission for each transaction. This helps protect you against fraud if someone steals your credit card.

However, credit cards may also have a contactless feature. This allows you to make purchases up to a certain amount without entering a PIN. Someone who finds or steals your credit card may access this amount.

There are other actions you may take to protect yourself from credit card fraud. Follow these tips to protect your credit card and your personal information.

Keep your PIN safe

Choose a PIN that is hard to guess. For example, avoid using your birthday, Social Insurance Number (SIN), address or telephone number as your PIN.

Be sure to keep your PIN safe:

Some financial institutions offer the ability to pay with a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Even with this payment method, you must always keep your PIN safe.

Contact your financial institution and change your PIN immediately if you suspect someone knows it.

If you share your PIN with someone, you may be responsible for transactions you didn’t make or approve.

Learn how to protect yourself from unauthorized mobile payments.

Protect yourself in public places

Protect yourself from credit card fraud in public places:

Protect yourself at home

Protect yourself from credit card fraud at home:

Protect yourself online

Protect yourself from credit card fraud online:

Protect yourself over the telephone

Legitimate credit card companies don’t ask for personal information over the phone. If you’re suspicious of a call, hang up and call back using the number on the back of your credit card. If they confirm they didn’t call, let them know about the situation. This way, they can document it and monitor your account.

Protect yourself from credit card fraud over the telephone:

Make sure a company is legitimate before giving it your information. If you’re not sure, hang up and contact the Better Business Bureau to check if the company is valid.

Find your Better Business Bureau.

Additional tips to protect yourself

To better protect yourself from credit card fraud, you may also:

You may use a mobile device to do your banking from an application or an online banking site. If you lose this device, let your credit card issuer right away. You should also contact your mobile service provider so they can help you de-activate your device.

If you're a victim of credit card fraud

If you think you’re a victim of credit card fraud, contact your credit card issuer immediately. Take note of whom you talked to and when you spoke to them.

You may then proceed as follows:

  1. write down what happened and how you first noticed the fraud
  2. keep all documents that you think might be helpful if the police investigate the fraud
  3. contact your local police service to file a complaint
  4. if you believe a company has been hacked, for example your telephone company, contact them
  5. continue to check your credit card statements to make sure there are no additional fraud charges

Put a fraud alert

You may also contact Canada’s 2 main credit bureaus: Equifax and TransUnion. Ask them to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Ask for a copy of your credit report from each credit bureau. Review them and report any incorrect information.

Learn how to get your credit report.

Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre is jointly managed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau Canada. It's Canada's central repository for information about fraud.

Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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