Reporting and Managing Unauthorized Debit Card Charges

Posted on July 10, 2025 in Security

If you’ve been the victim of debit card fraud, you’re not alone. Debit card fraud accounted for an astounding 39% of all fraud losses, making it the single largest source of financial fraud among payment methods, according to a 2025 Federal Reserve survey. Whether it is a small suspicious transaction or a large withdrawal you didn’t make, acting quickly is crucial to protecting your finances.

It is important to know that even though you haven’t provided your information to fraudsters, there are still ways they can manage to get your information. If you receive requests for personal or financial details, whether it be through text, email or phone, do not respond. Below are some steps to help guide you through the reporting process.

1. Recognize the red flags. Red flags come in many forms. If you discover charges from an unfamiliar merchant, make sure they don’t do business under a different name. Look for repeated small charges. Fraudsters often do this to test the validity of the card. If you have other family members authorized to use your debit card, be sure they didn’t make the questionable charge, as well.
2. Contact your Bank. Our Customer Care Team can be reached at 717-436-2144 or our after-hours Fraud Department Helpline at 1-866-960-2284. We will investigate the suspicious charges to determine if they are fraudulent. In most cases, we will close the compromised card and issue a new one.
3. File a fraud report. You can set up a free fraud alert with one of the major credit bureaus, Transunion, Experian or Equifax. A fraud alert only needs placed on one of the three credit bureaus and the others will automatically be alerted. This will keep fraudsters from modifying your existing accounts and won’t allow them to open a new account using your stolen information.
4. Update your payment accounts. If your compromised debit card is closed and you have it registered for automatic payments, be sure to update it. 
5. Strengthen your defenses. Download our CardValet app and set up alerts for when your card is used. You can also put spending limits, control the location and turn your card on and off with this app.

Debit card fraud has become more common than ever but by acting quickly, you can minimize the damage. For more information on common types of debit card fraud, check out our blog on brute force attacks. Stay vigilant and reach out to us if you suspect anything fraudulent on your account. We are here and ready to help!