In the first half of 2023, the Federal Trade Commission Sentinel Network reported over 38,000 cases in the U.S. where a debit card was fraudulently used, resulting in a total loss of over $106 million for consumers. 

While major banks such as Chase^® employ various security measures to protect users’ financial data, there’s always a risk of card details being obtained by bad actors that hack the businesses you shop at, especially with the popularity of online shopping. If someone used your Chase debit card fraudulently, you should learn how to mitigate the consequences.

This article will explain what steps to take in case of Chase debit card fraud and which types of fraud to look out for in the future. You will also discover alternative payment methods that could help with Chase debit card fraud prevention.

What To Do When Suspecting Chase Debit Card Fraud

If you suspect your Chase debit card was used fraudulently, it is crucial to act quickly. Chase advises you to do the following^[1]:

1. Check the details of the suspicious charge.
2. Lock your debit card and report fraud.
3. Activate your new debit card and update your billing information.

Check the Details of the Suspicious Charge

The first step you should take is to sign in to your Chase account and find the charge you suspect was made without your permission. You should open the link next to the displayed amount and check the details of the transaction, such as at what merchant the purchase was made and whether it was an online or in-person transaction. Keep in mind that you may not be able to see details for pending charges.

If you see a charge you recognize as yours, but the details don’t seem correct—such as being charged more than once or for a subscription you canceled, it is probably a charge error^[1]. In this case, you can report the issue as such and dispute the charge.

Before you report any charge as fraudulent, you should also check whether:

• The charge wasn't made by an authorized account holder
• You haven't let anyone else use your card
• The transaction details are unfamiliar, even while keeping in mind that some merchants use a different name or address for billing purposes

If you perform all of the steps above and determine the charge was definitely fraudulent, you should move on to the following step.

Lock Your Debit Card and Report the Fraud 

As soon as you confirm fraud on your Chase debit card, you should lock the card. It is important to note that locking your debit card will block new purchases but not recurring transactions.

The next step after locking your debit card is to sign into your Chase account and follow the necessary steps for reporting fraud. Besides filing a debit card fraud report online, you can also reach out to Chase Customer Support Service at 1-800-978-8664 to report the issue or ask any questions concerning unauthorized transactions made with your Chase debit card. Remember to update your phone number if necessary in case the bank needs to contact you quickly.

Once you file a Chase Debit Card fraud claim, your card will be deactivated for your protection, and you will be issued a new one—the replacement card will likely arrive within 3–5 business days.

Activate Your New Debit Card and Update Your Billing Information

When your replacement card arrives, you will first have to activate it. You can do so on Chase’s website, within the Chase Mobile app, or by calling the number on the back of your new debit card or using the card at any Chase ATM. Chase further recommends you take the necessary security measures to prevent unauthorized access to your bank account, including:

• Set up alerts to monitor your account activity and ensure no further unauthorized transactions occur
• Download the Chase^® Mobile App to access your account in real-time
• Sign up for Credit Journey to monitor your credit report and spot potential signs of identity theft early on

Another crucial step you should take after receiving a replacement debit card from Chase is to update your billing information for recurring transactions. Failing to do so can result in missed payments, which can lead to late payment penalties. You can typically update your billing details by navigating to the billing sections in your linked accounts, removing the stolen debit card data, and entering the replacement card details into the designated fields.

Federal Law Protection in Case of Chase Debit Card Fraud

If you were a victim of debit card fraud, you should know that federal law generally limits your responsibility for unauthorized charges on your debit card, provided you report the issue promptly. 

The table below presents the consumer liability details indicated by the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, a law that governs debit card fraud:

Privacy is a BBB^®-accredited business committed to maintaining high customer service standards. The company is PCI-DSS-compliant and also follows OWASP best practices, employing sophisticated security measures to protect sensitive customer information.

Other Benefits of Privacy Virtual Cards

Besides protecting your card and bank data, Privacy provides the following features to ensure seamless online transactions:

• Customizable spending limits—You can set per-card, monthly, or annual spending limits on each Privacy Card to prevent overcharging attempts from merchants and remain in control of your budget.
• Browser extension for fast checkouts—Privacy browser extension, available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, enables fast and seamless checkout by autofilling your virtual card numbers in the checkout fields. iPhone and iPad users can also leverage quick checkouts with the Safari for iOS extension.
• Pausing/unpausing and closing virtual cards—You can close/pause your virtual card without affecting your actual debit card and bank account. This feature is especially convenient if you want to prevent unwarranted charges from a subscription service—you can pause or close your virtual card, and Privacy will block all further charge attempts.
• Real-time account monitoring—If you want to create and manage your virtual cards on the go, install Privacy’s Android or iOS app. Every time your card is used or declined, Privacy will send you an in-app push notification and email, so you can track your account activity in real time.

How To Sign Up for a Privacy Virtual Card

Here’s how to sign up for a Privacy account:

1. Access the signup page
2. Enter the information required to verify your identity
3. Add a funding source, such as your debit card or bank account
4. Request and generate a Privacy Virtual Card

Privacy’s Personal plan is free for domestic purchases and offers 12 virtual cards a month, access to the browser extension and mobile app, and all the card controls mentioned above. If your needs grow, you can opt for one of the paid plans and create up to 60 virtual cards a month, plus enjoy benefits such as:

• 1% cashback on eligible purchases (totaling up to $4,500 a month)
• No fees on foreign transactions
• Priority support

U.S. residents over 18 years old with a checking account at a U.S. bank or credit union are eligible to request a Privacy Virtual Card. The cards are accepted by most local or global vendors that accept U.S. credit or debit card payments.

References

^[1] Chase. https://www.chase.com/digital/customer-service/fraud/unauthorized-charges, sourced October 2023

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