An unfamiliar card or bank charge appeared. What should you do?

A small unfamiliar charge can be a subscription, a merchant using a different trading name or unauthorized use. Do not reply to a text that claims to be your bank. Open your bank's app yourself or call the number printed on your card.

Act in this order​

1. Check the transaction date, amount and merchant details, but do not delay reporting a charge you cannot explain. Tell the bank or card issuer that you suspect an unauthorized transaction and ask how to dispute it.
2. Ask whether to lock the card, replace it or secure the account. Review recent transactions, including pending charges and any other accounts that use the same credentials.
3. Keep the transaction ID, screenshots, case number and the date of your report. Follow the bank's written instructions and deadlines for your account and country.

Protect the related accounts​

If your online banking password may be exposed, change it from a trusted device and review signed-in devices and payment recipients. Do not share one-time codes with someone who calls you about the charge. A reversal or provisional credit may depend on the investigation; it is not proof that the case is closed. The US CFPB explains one country's reporting rules; your bank can state the process that applies to you. Report promptly wherever you live.

Follow the case through​

Ask the institution where you can see the dispute status and whether recurring charges on a replaced card need attention. Recheck the account over the following days. If a second unauthorized charge appears, add it to the case rather than assuming the first report covers every transaction.