What to do when you lose your credit card

When you lose a credit card, it’s easy to get caught up in the questions that pop up: What happens if someone uses it without your permission? What can you do to help prevent that? How much is this going to cost you?

It’s a lot to consider, but rest assured: There are a few key steps you can take right away to help minimize the impact of a lost credit card.

Let’s walk through those steps, what your liability may be if someone uses your card illegally and tips for avoiding credit card fraud in the future.

Steps to take immediately after you lose your card

If you can’t find your credit card, there are a few key steps you should take to protect your account.

Lock or freeze your card

Many issuers offer the ability to lock or freeze your lost credit card through their mobile app, via your online account or over the phone. This feature temporarily prevents any new transactions on the card, giving you time to search for it. In the meantime, no one can make any unauthorized purchases.

For example, Citi^® Quick Lock allows eligible cardmembers to instantly lock their credit card account online or in the mobile app. It also ensures that recurring charges can still happen, so if you have a subscription charge coming up, you won’t have to provide new payment details just yet.

Understanding your liability

Legally, you can only be liable for up to $50 in unauthorized charges if you report the lost credit card as missing or stolen after fraudulent charges are made. Many issuers, including Citi, also offer $0 liability for unauthorized charges.

Review recent transactions

Take the time to review and monitor your account activity. Check for any charges you don’t recognize, no matter how small. Fraudsters often start with minor transactions to test the card. If you spot anything suspicious, note the details to report them when you contact your issuer.

Contact your issuer, if necessary

After freezing your card, determine whether it was lost or stolen. If you find the card, and there are no unauthorized charges, you can unfreeze it and continue using it as normal.

If you think it’s gone for good, contact your issuer and report your lost credit card, along with any unauthorized charges. You can typically find your issuer’s customer service phone number in a credit card statement or online.

Citi cardmembers can contact our customer service to report a lost or stolen credit card: 1-800-950-5114 (TTY: We accept 711 or other Relay Service).

Next, update your payment details

Once you report a lost credit card, your issuer should send you a replacement card, usually within about 5 business days. Your new card will have a different number, security code and expiration date, so you’ll need to update any automatic payments or subscriptions tied to the old card. You can review your statements to find any recurring charges. You’ll likely need to activate your new credit card before you use it.

Finally, continue monitoring charges

Keeping an eye on your account can help you spot any unauthorized charges in the future, particularly if your credit card issuer doesn’t offer a card lock feature. Log in to your account and check your statements regularly.

How to avoid credit card fraud in the future

There are several key steps you can take to protect your credit card in the future:

• Consider using a mobile wallet: With a mobile wallet, you don’t need to carry your physical credit cards with you, which may help reduce the risk of losing them
• Store your card(s) securely: Keeping your card(s) in a safe space when not in use can help you reduce the risk of credit card fraud
• Update passwords: Regularly changing your online banking and payment account passwords, as well as ensuring that you have different passwords for each account, can help enhance your protection
• Use multifactor authentication: If your banks and issuers allow it, signing up for multifactor authentication (such as biometric information, like face or fingerprint recognition, or push notifications) can add security to your credit card accounts

A lost credit card can be a major source of stress. However, once you’ve dealt with the issue and shifted your focus to prevention, you’ll be much better positioned to avoid it in the future.

Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.