Within one week, I found 3 unauthorized charges on 3 different credit cards.  

As a result, I spent most of that week calling the credit card hotlines, then the merchants involved, then calling back the credit card issuers, then filing dispute reports to set the complaint wheels in motion.  

With one card it would have been tiring, but with 3x the pain, that was draining both mentally and emotionally.   Let’s hope not financially too, as I still have to wait between 7 to 15 business days if my disputes will be "honored," meaning the issuing bank or card network will agree with my claims and reverse the transactions.

Please let me clarify that I did not do anything different from my usual activities.  My wallet was not lost, my credit cards are all in my possession, and I did not sign up for any online offers.  I did not update my email or mobile phone numbers with my credit card companies too.  How these happened, and with 3 different cards, appear to be just a series of unfortunate events.

Having gone through the experience for 3 different credit cards within such a short window of time, there are some things I learned that can help consumers when disputing unauthorized charges.  Here are 7 of them that may come in handy should you find hackers also going after you.

#1 Block your card right away

Most credit card issuers that have mobile banking apps that now allow consumers to block their card.  Do this even if you are still not sure whether your account has been hacked.  You can always unblock it in case you were mistaken.  But in the meantime, blocking your card means no further fraud charges.

#2 Always check your statements

When your statement is ready, make sure to check every charge.  It helps if you track your spending, so you can compare and tag the questionable entries.  Generally, you have between 30 to 60 days to dispute entries in a credit card statement.  But the sooner you catch the unfamiliar charges, the sooner you can take action and stop any more fraud entries.

#3 When to call the credit card company first

If the unfamiliar charge is with a merchant you don’t know, call your credit card company right away.  I noticed that most credit card companies want you to resolve the issue with the merchant, but when the merchant is a Google Prometheus Mountain View, and the charge is in a foreign currency of a country I have never visited, I started with the credit card company and turns out that was the right move.

#4 When to call the merchant first

With near zero cooking skills, I use food delivery apps often.  So with one of my credit cards, many entries were charges with a familiar merchant.  But I also have a budget, so one entry stood out for being 4x bigger than my usual order amount.  I checked the app and there was no such charge.  It’s also not in my personal tracker but I decided to check with the merchant too.  When they confirmed that there is no transaction in my history, I called the credit card company and reported it.

#5 If no PIN, you win

One of the questions I got from all 3 credit cards was if I authorized the transactions with a PIN.  Thankfully, I was able to say No.  It turns out that if you received a PIN and authorized a transaction, you will be 99% likely made to pay for it, even if you file a dispute. Fraud transactions that go through without a PIN are unlikely to be charged to the consumer.

#6 Time to cut up those plastics

No matter the amount of the disputed charges, it is safer to cut up your credit card, block them in the mobile banking apps, and request your card issuer for a new one.  Turns out that some hackers try with smaller amounts first, and when they get away with it, they will be back for more.  

#7 Get replacement cards for free

Don’t worry – replacement cards due to fraud are usually free.  This should be true for the principal holder, and also the supplementary cards if they need to be blocked and replaced too.  With your new credit card, make sure to ask what happens with your enrolled accounts for utilities.  The last thing you want is to lose your electricity, phone and internet for missed payments.

Some credit card companies offer to “park” the disputed amount so you don’t have to pay for it until they make a decision on your complaint.  But others recommend that you pay the amount so you don’t have to pay finance charges for carrying a balance.  Whichever the scenario, it’s good to stop using the card until the issue has been resolved.  If you have a backup credit card, swipe with that first.  In my case, with 3 credit cards compromised, I decided to go cash and debit card in the meantime.  

This can also help your case with your credit card company.  By pausing your swiping, you can wait for your balance to clear out and better monitor the resolution of your fraud complaint.