Credit Card Fraud FAQs - Account Security | Discover (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions

An “unauthorized purchase” is the use of your credit card or card account information by a third party, such as for a charge, purchase or other card transaction where you have not given access to your card information to any other person or business for one time or repeated use, such as a merchant, employee, relative or friend. Please use reasonable care to protect your card, account numbers and personal identification numbers, including in places where your card information may be stored for others to access or use. Transactions made by authorized users, secondary cardmembers and others you have given permission to use or access to your account, and transactions that you benefit from, are not “unauthorized.” It is important that you contact us as soon as you suspect unauthorized use so that we can assist you. We will then open an investigation to determine if the transactions were unauthorized.

First, check with any secondary cardmember or authorized user who might share your account, to see if they recognize the transaction. To help you identify a charge, you can also view more details online by clicking on the transaction in your Account Activity section.

If you suspect that a transaction is fraudulent, please call us right away at 1-866-240-7938. Or, you can contact Customer Service online or initiate a dispute. You can also report a fraudulent transaction to the Federal Trade Commission.

No. All Discover cardmembers are protected with our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee, which means you're never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card account.1 If you spot a purchase you don't recognize, first check with any secondary cardmember or authorized user who might share your account, to see if they recognize the transaction.Ifthe transaction is not recognized, please contact us immediately.

Credit card fraud happens several different ways, most commonly with your card information being compromised in a data breach or your physical card being stolen. Unauthorized purchases are purchases on your credit card or card account information by a third party, such as for a charge, purchase or other transaction where you have not given access to your card information to any other person or business for one time or repeated use, such as a merchant, employee, relative or friend.

Credit card fraud is a serious crime that is punishable by law. We frequently work with local, state and federal authorities to help bring these criminals to justice.

If fraud is suspected,Discover willimmediatelycloseyour account to help protect your information andprevent any further unauthorized use.A member of our U.S.-based Fraud Team will open an investigation into the questionable transactions on your account. We askyou to please destroy all cards, personal identification numbers (PINs), and checks if you have any, associated with your Discover account. We will be transferring all of your account history, including your cashback bonus over to a new account. We'll also send a replacement card with new account information and credit your account for the amount of the questionable transaction(s). All unauthorized transactions will be removed from your account pending the outcome of the investigation.

No. To help protect your information and prevent further unauthorized use of your account, we immediately deactivate your card and close your account. You will receive a replacementcard with a new account number within 3-7 business days.

The transaction(s) in question and any relatedfees will be creditedright back to your account within 10 days.

If you're unsure whether a transaction was refunded, you can also contact your Fraud Specialist.

A fraud investigation can take up to 90 days and we'll notify you once it's complete. In the meantime, we might contact you for additional information, if needed.

You can contact aDiscoverrepresentative at1-866-240-7938.

For questions related to an open fraud investigation, please call 1-800-347-7466 to speak with a member of our Fraud Team.

Credit Card Fraud FAQs - Account Security | Discover (2024)

FAQs

How to report fraud on Discover account? ›

Call us at 1-866-240-7938.

Awareness is an important tool in fighting fraud.

Will Discover refund you if you get scammed? ›

All of the best Discover credit cards come with a $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee. That means you aren't responsible for any unauthorized transactions on your Discover credit card. Even if the transaction was authorized but you didn't get the item as stated or were charged incorrectly, Discover will still work with you.

Does Discover protect against fraud? ›

All Discover cardmembers are protected with our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee, which means you're never responsible for unauthorized purchases on your Discover Card account.

How do I report fraud to my account? ›

Contact your bank to report and stop unauthorized automatic withdrawals from your account. Forward phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. If you got a phishing text message, forward it to SPAM (7726). Report any phishing attacks to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

What to do to report credit card fraud? ›

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The three major credit reporting agencies. Ask them to place fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts. The fraud department at your credit card issuers, bank, and other places where you have accounts.

Will my credit card reimburse me if I get scammed? ›

If you paid by card or PayPal

If you've paid for something you haven't received, you might be able to get your money back. Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.

Can I get money back on credit card if scammed? ›

Chargeback lets you ask your card provider to refund a payment on your credit card when a purchase has gone wrong. You should always contact the seller first, as you cannot start a chargeback claim unless you have done this.

How long do you have to dispute a Discover Card charge? ›

The standard Discover chargeback time limit for cardholders is 120 days from the day they made the purchase for most Discover chargeback reason codes. It's important to note that Discover may opt to extend the chargeback deadline for cardholders.

How long does it take to Discover fraud? ›

The duration of a bank fraud investigation can vary widely, typically ranging from 30 to 90 days. This timeline depends on the complexity of the case, the amount of evidence to be gathered, and the level of collaboration required with external entities such as law enforcement agencies.

How secure is Discover online banking? ›

We utilize Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt your personal and account information online, with compatible browsers, and in the mobile app.

Am I protected from credit card fraud? ›

The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) protects you against credit card fraud and limits your maximum liability to $50. Some card issuers expand that law by offering $0 fraud liability on unauthorized charges, which means you won't be held liable for any amount of fraudulent purchases.

Is Discover good with disputes? ›

Yes. Because the issuer in this case has the bulk of the transaction information already, Discover disputes are typically more straightforward. For the same reason, however, it can be hard to successfully contest a Discover card chargeback.

Does Discover ask for a social security number? ›

Discover, Citi and Credit One Bank require a Social Security number in order to apply for one of their cards.

How does Discover verify your identity? ›

We may need to send you an identification code via text message or phone call to verify your identity.

How to dispute a charge through Discover? ›

If a Fraud Resolution Specialist is available to chat with you, an option to “Chat Now” will be provided on the transaction verification page. If chat agents aren't available, you can contact us at 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683).

What to do if you Discover fraud? ›

If you gave the fraudster your bank account number or routing number, contact your bank or credit union immediately. You may need to close the account and open a new one. Social security number. Go ahead with a fraud alert or credit freeze and report your information stolen at the FTC's identitytheft.gov website.

How to freeze a Discover bank account? ›

If you're a Discover® Cardmember, you can freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.

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