Review Your Statements

• Review your credit card statements on a regular basis to identify potential fraud. It is not enough to simply look for large and obvious charges on your credit card statement. Many thieves use small charges, some recurring month after month, in an attempt to steal money from unwitting cardholders.Thoroughly review your statement and ensure that every charge on it was authorized by you or someone permitted to use the card.
  
  

Contact Your Credit Card Issuer

• Contact your credit card issuer as soon as you notice a fraudulent charge. If you file your dispute over the phone, follow up in writing as well. Find the customer service address on your monthly statement. Include your full name and complete credit card number on the letter to make sure the dispute is handled properly.
  
  

Look For a Charge-back

• The credit card issuer will initiate a charge-back as soon as you dispute the charge. You will see this charge-back listed as a credit on your next statement and online under your recent activity. This initial charge-back is temporary while the bank carries out its investigation. The bank will determine whether the charge was actually fraudulent.
  
  

Read Final Determination

• Within a month or two the bank will complete its investigation and determine whether to leave the charge-back in place. If the charge-back remains in place, you no longer owe the money and you can request a refund if your card now has a credit balance. If the charge is found to be valid it will go back on your card and you will be responsible for paying it.