How to Dispute a Fraudulent Charge and Win

Step-by-step guide to disputing unauthorized charges on your credit or debit card and recovering your money.

  1. Call your card issuer immediately. Contact the bank or credit card company that issued your card as soon as you notice the fraudulent charge. Find the number on the back of your card or your statement—don't use a number from an email or text, which could be a scam. Tell them the transaction was unauthorized. They'll freeze your card and open a fraud claim on the spot. This call protects you under federal law: you're liable for $0 on credit cards and at most $50 on debit cards if you report within 2 business days.
  2. Request a written dispute form. Ask the issuer to send you a written dispute form—or confirm they have your email for one. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have the right to dispute in writing within 60 days of when the statement was mailed (not when you discovered the fraud). Getting it in writing creates a paper trail and triggers mandatory protections. If the issuer says you only need to do it by phone, ask for a case number and confirmation email instead.
  3. Gather evidence and document the charge. Collect screenshots of the fraudulent transaction, your statement, and any communications with the merchant or issuer. Write down the date you noticed the charge, the date you called the issuer, and the case number. If you never received the item, a package confirmation showing non-delivery helps. If the merchant has a track record of fraud, note that too—but focus on proving you didn't authorize *this* charge, not their general reputation.
  4. Submit your written dispute with evidence. Return the dispute form with a cover letter restating that the charge was unauthorized and listing any evidence. Send it by certified mail with return receipt to the address on your statement—don't email unless they specifically authorize it. Include copies only, never originals. Keep your receipt. The issuer has 30 days to acknowledge it and 60–90 days to investigate and resolve it.
  5. Monitor the chargeback and provide more evidence if asked. Once your dispute is filed, the issuer launches a chargeback—a formal demand that the merchant prove the transaction was authorized. The merchant has 7–10 days to respond. If they can't prove you authorized it, you win and get your money back. If they claim you did authorize it, the issuer will ask you for more evidence. Reply within the stated deadline (usually 7 days). If the merchant produces a signature or authorization code you didn't give, escalate by sending copies of your ID and a statement that it wasn't you.
  6. Get your refund and review for prevention. Once resolved, the issuer will credit your account—usually within 5–10 business days of the chargeback decision. Check your statement to confirm. Then review the charge itself: Did a password get compromised? Was it a data breach? Set up fraud alerts or a credit freeze if your personal information was exposed. Replace your card, and enable transaction alerts for future spending.