If you lose your credit card or if you realize it’s been lost or stolen, immediately call the credit card issuer. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. By law, once you report the loss or theft, you have no further responsibility for unauthorized charges.

If you suspect credit card fraud, you may be asked to sign a statement under oath that you did not make the purchase(s) in question.

You will need to contact your credit card company - they will walk you through the procedure. They should immediately put a block on your file and report it to the exception files. They may ask you for an affidavit or a police statement. If you’re concerned that they’re giving you the run-around, you should read up on your rights as a consumer: