Oops! My new debit card was accidentally sent to my old address, and someone else used it. Here’s how to report fraud and protect your bank account

Fraud can happen in the most ordinary circumstances. Take Christl. She recently moved to a different apartment in the same building but forgot to update her address with her bank. Her new debit card was delivered to her old address, and the new tenant began using it.

Though she has reported the fraud to her bank, she’s wondering what else she should do to protect herself. Here are a few tips for what she needs to know and how you can protect your own bank account from fraud.

Why debit card fraud is a major pain

Debit cards are a prime target for scammers, according to the Federal Reserve Financial Services (2). About 73% of financial institutions surveyed said debit cards were the top payment method for fraud attempts in 2024, and fraudulent debit card transactions were also the most expensive for financial institutions to reimburse.

Unlike credit cards, debit cards are directly tied to a person’s bank account, meaning unauthorized charges can drain your cash quickly. Another risk: if you don’t report fraud right away, you could be responsible for the unauthorized transactions, either up to $50 or the full amount, U.S. News reports (3).

How debit card crime works

While theft of a physical card, like in Christl’s case, is less common, there are other ways to access your debit card information. These include card skimming devices on ATMs or point-of-sale terminals, data breaches on the dark web or unauthorized access to your bank account, such as on a public computer.

Debit cards are a more attractive target to fraudsters than credit cards because victims have fewer consumer protections under federal law. They give thieves immediate access to cash, and many people keep higher balances in checking accounts than their daily credit card limits. While credit card companies monitor for fraud closely, some banks may not check debit card transactions as diligently.

"Many banks allow you to set up alerts when there's activity on the card," said Freddie Huynh, co-founder and CEO of Delos Financial Technologies, to U.S. News (3). "But even with all the convenience that online banking provides us, at a minimum, you should still check your statements monthly."

Protecting yourself from debit card theft

The most important step in keeping yourself safe, after regularly checking your statements, is reporting fraud as quickly as possible. If you report the fraud within two business days, you may be liable for up to $50. Between two and 60 days later, you can be liable for up to $500. After 60 days, you may be on the hook for the full amount (3).

For this reason, experts recommend using a credit card when possible, as many offer zero liability for unauthorized purchases.

There are consumer protections under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA). The National Consumer Law Center offers protections if your debit card or its number is used without authorization and your right to dispute errors affecting your debit card. Credit cards also allow you to withhold payment for poor-quality goods or services in certain cases. Debit cards do not (4).

Keeping your card safe

To protect your debit card, get in the habit of:

• Keeping your debit card in a secure place that isn’t easily accessible
• Not sharing your PIN with anyone not authorized on your account
• Looking for skimming devices at ATMs and payment terminals
• Using only private, secure internet connections for online banking and enabling two-factor authentication
• Setting up alerts for unusual transactions on your account
• Submitting a permanent change-of-address request to the United States Postal Inspection Service when you move, so important mail doesn’t get misdirected.

Where to report fraud

If you are the victim of debit card fraud, report the transactions to your bank first. You can also file a police report for a stolen card and report the fraud to the FTC (5). In Christl’s case, since her debit card was stolen in the mail, she could also report the theft to the USPS, which investigates all mail fraud and mail theft (6).

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

FTC (1, 5); Federal Reserve Financial Services (2); U.S. News (3); National Consumer Law Center (4); United States Postal Inspection Service (6)