Unauthorized Credit Card Charges
Charges appear on your credit card statement that you didn't make.
What this generally means
Cardholders have the right to dispute unauthorized charges, and card issuers are required to investigate and often reverse fraudulent transactions.
Your journey
You Are Here
You're trying to understand what to do about unauthorized credit card charges. That's a good first step.
Understand Issue
Read through what this situation generally means and what your options are.
Gather Documents
Collect the evidence and paperwork that will support your case.
Contact Resource
Reach out to the most relevant authority, helpline, or legal aid service.
Escalate If Needed
If the first contact doesn't resolve things, escalate to a higher forum or authority.
Follow Up
Track your complaint's status and keep records of every response you receive.
Common next steps
- 1Call your card issuer's fraud line immediately to block the card.
- 2File a formal dispute for each unauthorized charge.
- 3Report the fraud on the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
- 4Follow up in writing if the dispute isn't resolved within the issuer's stated timeline.
Useful documents
- Credit card statement highlighting disputed charges
- Any suspicious messages/emails linked to the fraud
- Dispute reference number from the issuer
Relevant authorities
- Your Card Issuer's Fraud Department
- Banking Ombudsman
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
Frequently asked questions
Am I liable for fraudulent charges?+
Liability is typically limited if you report promptly, especially if the fraud wasn't due to your negligence.
How long does a dispute take to resolve?+
This varies by issuer, but most are required to respond within a set number of business days.
Verified resources
RBI Complaint Management System (Banking Ombudsman)
Integrated Ombudsman Scheme portal for unresolved complaints against banks regarding fraud, charges, and service deficiency — file only after your bank has had 30 days to respond. Toll-free: 14448.
Cyber Crime Helpline (1930)
24x7 toll-free helpline for immediate reporting of financial cyber fraud, to request a freeze on fraudulent transactions before funds are withdrawn.