What to Do With Your Credit Card After a Data Breach

Learning that your credit card was part of a data breach can be alarming. A data breach exposes your personal information to unauthorized individuals. While you can’t prevent it from happening, there are steps you can take to limit potential damage.

Here are some actions you can take if your credit card information has been compromised:

1. Request New Credit Cards

If your credit card number was exposed, call your credit card issuer and request new cards. This will change your card number while keeping your account, credit history, and credit limits intact. Remember to update any recurring charges or autopayments with your new card number.

2. Change Your Passwords

Changing your password can help prevent unauthorized access to your account. Create a strong, unique password and avoid reusing passwords from other accounts. Consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords. Multifactor authentication can also enhance your account security.

3. Check Transactions on Your Online Account

Regularly monitoring your account transactions is crucial after a breach. Set up alerts to notify you whenever your credit card number is used. This can help you quickly identify and address any unauthorized transactions.

Additional Steps to Take After a Data Breach

If you want to further secure your information, consider the following steps:

Add a Fraud Alert to Your Credit File

You can add a fraud alert to your credit file by notifying one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax). This will prompt potential new creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity. Fraud alerts last for one year and are renewable.

Freeze Your Credit

Freezing your credit limits creditors’ access to your credit report, preventing new accounts from being opened in your name. You will need to lift the freeze if you apply for credit. While a credit freeze offers strong protection, it requires freezing and thawing your credit report at each bureau individually.

How to Protect Your Credit Card Information

While you can’t prevent a data breach, you can adopt daily habits to protect your credit card information:

• Don’t give out your credit card number unnecessarily.
• Ensure authorized users practice good security habits.
• Avoid saving your account password online.
• Don’t keep a photo of your card on your phone; use a digital wallet instead.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making online purchases.

The Bottom Line

Being notified of a data breach can be unsettling. Your best response is to take control and make your information as useless as possible to unauthorized individuals. Requesting new credit card numbers, changing passwords, and monitoring your account transactions are effective steps. Additionally, consider setting up alerts and regularly checking your credit reports.

For any mortgage service needs, don’t hesitate to call O1ne Mortgage at 213-732-3074. We’re here to help you secure your financial future.