Lost / Stolen Credit Card Fraud

If criminals obtain your card, either because you lose it or because it is stolen, they can impersonate you in order to buy goods and services, whether in person or online. In the event that you lose your card or it is stolen, you must inform your provider as soon as possible (see also Lost / Stolen Card). Your card could be stolen from you in several ways, whether from your wallet, your home, your car or even from undelivered mail.

Credit cards stolen in the mail present a serious threat. When you apply for a credit card, you should receive it by post, typically within one or two weeks. Your card could be intercepted before it even reaches you, whether taken by unscrupulous postal workers or from a communal letterbox. If you live in a flat or in student halls of residence you may be at increased risk from this type of theft, because your mail is more accessible for your neighbours.