There are many different types of credit card fraud which are unfortunately more common than people think. If your credit card is compromised, your credit score could take a hit, and you could spend years trying to repair the damage done. If your identity was stolen as well, it can upend your life.
The consumer fraud lawyers at Markoff Leinberger are dedicated to helping clients recover damages against companies or businesses that are cavalier with your information. If you’ve been the victim of credit card fraud, call us at 888-517-9115 for your free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
Data Breaches
Data breaches are the most common cause of identity theft and credit card fraud. These occur when security measures are breached, allowing data thieves to steal customers’ information. Data breaches can occur at a brick-and-mortar store at the point of sale, or they can occur when a huge corporation is hacked and all of their customer data becomes vulnerable to theft.
Some large companies that have suffered data breaches affecting millions of consumers include:
Smaller companies can also be careless with their information. Markoff Leinberger recently took on a case where a hospital allowed a low-level employee access to sensitive patient information. This information was not ultimately used for credit card fraud, but it did lead to negative consequences for the patients.
Physical Theft or Skimming
Other methods of credit card fraud include physical theft of a credit card and skimming. Theft of a credit card is the easiest to discover and dispute, as the thief often ends up making unusual purchases that your credit card fraud department will notice. When this happens, all you need to do is dispute the charges and shut down the credit card.
Skimming occurs when fraudsters set up devices at physical locations such as ATMs or gas station card readers that capture the information on your credit card. This practice is becoming more and more common, and you should be wary when using any public card reader.
You can check for skimming devices by:
- Comparing the card reader on your ATM with the one next to it, if there are multiple machines in the location
- Looking out for any out-of-place materials or colors
- Try wiggling any protruding parts. If it seems loose or overly bulky, it may be a skimming device
What to Do If You Suspect Credit Card Fraud
If you think you have been a victim of credit card fraud, there are steps you should take as soon as possible. These include:
- Call your credit card company and dispute any suspicious charges
- Close your credit card
- Request a fraud alert from credit monitoring companies
- File a report with the FTC
- Call Markoff Leinberger credit card fraud lawyers
If your credit card fraud was the result of a data breach that affected many people, you may be able to file a class action lawsuit against the company where the breach occurred.
Schedule Your Credit Card Fraud Consultation
If you’ve been affected by credit card fraud, don’t hesitate to contact Markoff Leinberger today at 888-517-9115. We serve clients in Chicago and nationwide.