You can check for suspicious bank activity using your own paper statement or your bank’s official app or website. You do not need to give another person or service your bank password or verification code. Compare each entry with your own receipts and subscription records, then contact the bank directly if a transaction still looks unauthorized.
Review the statement using your own bank access
Use a paper statement or sign in yourself through your financial institution’s official app or website. The CFPB recommends watching account statements and digital banking information for unauthorized transactions and errors. Reviewing your own records does not require handing your credentials to anyone else. The CFPB also advises understanding what data a financial-data service can access, how it uses or stores that data, whether it can move money, and how to stop access or request deletion where applicable: CFPB guidance on sharing financial data.
How to check entries that look unfamiliar
- Scan every transaction. Look at the date, amount, and merchant description for each debit, card charge, and withdrawal. Do not skip small amounts.
- Compare it with your own records. Check receipts, subscriptions, travel and other purchases, and consider whether a merchant may appear under a billing or parent-company name you do not immediately recognize.
- Investigate before deciding. An unfamiliar description is a reason to check, not proof of fraud. A small charge can also deserve attention: the CFPB warns that thieves sometimes test a card or account with a small charge before trying more. See its advice on watching accounts after card data is hacked.
What to do if a charge still appears unauthorized
- Contact the bank or credit union promptly. Use the number on your statement or card, or open the institution’s official app or website yourself. Ask how to report and dispute the transaction. Do not rely on a phone number or link provided by an unexpected caller or message.
- Keep a record. Note when you contacted the institution, whom you spoke with, any reference number, and what you were told. Keep copies of written communications.
- Ask about securing the account. If a debit card or electronic transfer may be involved, ask whether the card should be locked or replaced and whether you should change the debit-card PIN. The appropriate steps depend on the circumstances.
The CFPB says to report a transaction you do not recognize to your financial institution right away. Its guidance on unauthorized transactions and missing money explains that, for certain unauthorized electronic fund transfers shown on an account statement, you should notify the institution within 60 days after it sends the statement. Waiting may affect responsibility for later transfers, depending on the circumstances; do not treat 60 days as a safe waiting period.
Why deadlines depend on the transaction type
The CFPB describes specific procedures for certain electronic-transfer errors: after receiving notice, a bank or credit union generally has 10 business days to investigate. If it determines an error occurred, it must correct it within one business day, and it then has three business days to report its findings. These timeframes apply to the described electronic-transfer procedures; they are not a guarantee for every disputed charge or account situation. A lost or stolen debit card, or a stolen PIN or security code, can involve different timing and potential liability. Contact your institution promptly and consult the CFPB’s guidance for the situation that applies.
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Checks can be treated differently from electronic transfers. The CFPB says an unauthorized check may be processed electronically, while state law may govern some checks that are not; see its guidance on unauthorized checks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protect your login from fraud calls and messages
Do not give your password, account login, or one-time verification code to someone who contacts you claiming there is fraud. The FTC warns that scammers may impersonate a bank and may pressure people to move money to supposedly protect it. End an unexpected call and verify the issue independently by using the number on your statement or card, or the bank’s official app or website. The FTC says, “No caller — especially someone from your bank or investment company’s fraud department — will ever ask for the verification code.” Read its advice on calls about supposed bank fraud and unexpected calls claiming your money is at risk.
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