With how easy it is to use your credit card to pay for everyday purchases, there is now an entire cottage industry of credit card hackers. These hackers have tapped into major retailer payment processors at companies like Amazon, Equifax, and Capital One, making credit card hacks seem commonplace. [1][2][3]
Even if you use one of the best credit cards of 2025, you are not immune to hacking attempts. You should know how to protect your credit card, income, and transaction data. The smart money moves below will give you a blueprint for quickly reacting to any issues.
Take the Next Step:
On Continental Finance’s Website
Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®
Smart Money Rating: 5/5
Best For: Building Credit
Initial Credit Limit: Up to $1000
9 Ways to Protect Your Credit Card Data
Here are nine ways to set yourself up for success and react to a compromised credit card:
1. Monitor Your Online Account
You might be notified early that you are part of a data breach. Most of the time, however, you react to a breach that occurred days, weeks, or months ago. At that point, it might be too late to fix any damage that has been done.
Instead, you should proactively monitor your online credit card accounts via your credit card website or mobile app. Regularly perusing transactions is an excellent way to spot suspicious transactions. Once you spot a suspicious charge, you should dispute it immediately.
2. Order a Replacement Card
Once you know you are part of a data breach or see a fraudulent transaction, you should immediately call your credit card company to report the issue. From there, you should request a new credit card with a new credit card number.
It usually takes 3 to 5 business days for your new credit card to arrive. That is why it is smart to have a backup credit card already. A cash back rewards card can be a perfect card to keep around for emergencies or one-off purchases.
Take the Next Step:
On Upgrade’s Website
Upgrade Credit Card
Smart Money Rating: 5/5
Cash Back: 1.5%
Best For: Establishing Credit History
Credit Line: $500 – $25,000 (Terms Apply)
3. Freeze Your Credit Report
Getting caught in a data breach can ruin your credit report and score. If you think your data has been compromised, you can contact the three credit bureaus to issue a security freeze, often called a credit freeze, on your credit report.
By temporarily freezing your credit report, no lender can access it without your permission. This can also mitigate identity theft and credit fraud.
Starting a security freeze is free and can be done virtually instantaneously.[4] Remember that if you want to apply for a new credit card, personal loan, line of credit, or other credit product, you must unfreeze your account for lenders to access your report.
4. Set Fraud Alerts
Instead of placing a freeze on your credit report and having to thaw your credit profile, you can set a fraud alert with the credit bureaus. This can help you mitigate credit card hacks.
Fraud alerts allow you to sign off on who can issue a new credit product in your name, but businesses can still see your credit report. Here are two types of fraud alerts: [5]
- Initial Fraud Alerts require businesses to contact you before opening a new credit account in your name. Once lenders confirm you are the account holder, they can issue the new product. Initial fraud alerts last one year.
- Extended Fraud Alerts are the next level up from an initial fraud alert. Lenders must still contact you before issuing a new credit product in your name. You are also removed from marketing lists. Extended fraud alerts last seven years.
5. Request Your Credit Reports
Reviewing your credit report at least annually is essential for credit hygiene. Thankfully, you are entitled to a free credit report from all three credit bureaus. Any suspicious activity or factual errors can be reported directly to Equifax, Experian, or Transunion.
Reviewing your credit report at least annually is essential for credit hygiene.
Not sure where to start? Follow these 7 Steps to Get Your Free Credit Report.
Your credit report will show you issues with credit card payments and highlight all of your credit products, such as mortgages, personal lines of credit, and personal loans.
Take the Next Step:
on Upstart Website
Upstart Personal Loans
Smart Money Rating: 5/5
Best For: Fast Online Loans
Loans From: $1,000 – $50,000 (Terms Apply)
Bonus Offer: Checking Interest Rate Won’t Affect Your Credit Score
6. Monitor Your Mobile Apps
Hacking your credit card information on your phone is one of the most common methods of maliciously accessing your credit card data. To prevent credit card hacks, make sure you use a secure Wi-Fi connection in public places and only download legitimate mobile apps with enhanced security features to your phone.
Suspicious text messages and prompts from unknown phone numbers or applications you don't remember downloading should be treated with extreme caution. These messages could be part of a phishing scam. These scams involve texting, calling, or emailing you with a link or prompt to update your credit card information.
Only provide your credit card information directly to a website on a secure connection. If you are suspicious of a prompt, ignore it.
7. Regularly Update Passwords
The password length and complexity recommendations have evolved to evade cyber security threats. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued password guidelines for 2025, emphasizing the importance of password length and recommending that your password be at least 8-15 characters.[6]
While passwords alone can't entirely prevent credit card data breaches, it's always a good habit to be smart about password hygiene. You can also use enhanced security features like multi-factor authentication, Face ID, or Touch ID.
Take the Next Step:
On Continental Finance’s Website
FIT™ Platinum Mastercard®
Smart Money Rating: 5/5
Best For: Building Credit
Initial Credit Limit: $400
8. Check Your Credit Card Statements
Review all the transactions on your card when you pay your minimum credit card payments or pay your monthly statement. You should recognize all of them, and if any seem unauthorized, you can call your credit card company to report an issue.
For example, if you frequently use one of your favorite travel rewards credit cards (to maximize travel program miles or points), it is smart to check your credit card statement more often. This type of active monitoring will keep you aware of your spending patterns and debt and spot any unusual credit card activity.
9. Review Your Credit Score
One smart credit card habit is to check your credit score regularly. Online credit cards offer free credit score updates based on your FICO or VantageScore credit scores. Check your credit card mobile app or website to find your credit score section.
An unexpected or drastic shift in your credit score could signal an issue. For example, someone fraudulently trying to open a new credit card in your name can impact your credit score. A string of new credit inquiries can damage your credit score. Keeping a pulse on your credit score can help you identify potential issues early.
Smart Summary
Fixing credit card hacks can be time-consuming, annoying, and costly. Great for credit card management included taking preventative steps, like making your devices less vulnerable, enhancing password protection, monitoring your credit card usage, and instituting regular credit score and report views. If you do become a victim of a credit card hack or breach, pick up the phone and call your credit card issuer immediately. Getting a handle on any unauthorized activity quickly is a smart money move.
(1) Tom’s Guide. 5 million Americans just had their credit card details leaked online — what to do now. Last Accessed February 21, 2025.
(2) Federal Trade Commission. Equifax Data Breach Settlement. Last Accessed February 21, 2025.
(3) Capital One. Information on the Capital One cyber incident. Last Accessed February 21, 2025.
(4) Experian. Freeze your credit file for free. Last Accessed February 21, 2025.
(5) Federal Trade Commission. Consumer Advice: Credit Freeze or Fraud Alert: What’s Right for Your Credit Report? Last Accessed February 21, 2025.
(6) National Institute of Standards and Technology. https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-4/sp800-63b.html. Last Accessed February 21, 2025.
