How Do I Report Fraud on My Bank of America Account or Card?

Introduction

If you think you're a victim of fraud, you need to take quick action before the perpatrators do more damage. Your bank expects you to alert them immediately when you come across suspicious activities on your accounts.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can report suspected fraud that you've seen on your Bank of America account or card.

What You'll Need

You'll need to have your Bank of American credit card of debit card account number on hand.

1. Check All Your Bank of America Accounts for Fraud

If you have multiple Bank of America accounts, you'll need to review each one to understand how many have been impacted. You'll then relay this information to the Bank of America customer service representative later.

2. Change Your Bank of America Password

At this stage, you may not know how the thieves or imposters got access to your account. Since it's possible they hacked your bank accounts digitally, it's important to stop and change your password right away to reduce the risk of further damage.

Go to the Bank of America website or app. Select the "Forgot user ID/Password? " button.

3. Reset Your Password With Your SSN or ITIN

You'll need to enter the last six digits of your card or account number, and your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to begin the password reset process. Follow the instructions provided on the screen.

4. Report the Fraud Via Phone to the Bank of America's Customer Support

Now, you need to call in to the Bank fo America's customer support team to report the fraud. This primary customer service line has operating hours of Monday to Friday 8am-11pm, and Saturady and Sundays 8am-8pm EST.

However, you'll need to report the fraud as soon as you come across it. If you need to report outside of the above operating hours, here are some other Bank of America phone numbers you can try.

For debit card fraud, if you report the incident within two business days, it may limit your liability to $50. Taking longer can increase your liability and reduce the amount of funds recovered.

5. Complete Instructions Given By the Customer Support Representative

The Bank of America customer support representative will provide you with instructions on what to do next. They will most likely freeze all of your accounts, so the perpatrator cannot access more funds. This will mean that your accounts may not be usable until the fraud investigation clears up.

You'll likely be given a case number or a guide on how to follow up on the fraud alert. Make sure you write this down so have a place to turn to for updates. You can expect the investigation to take several business days.

Conclusion

Fraud on your account can have a devastating impact on your finances. The Bank of America will need time to investigate the claim so they can verify that you're not at fault. The faster you can report the fraud, the quicker the investigation can begin and close. The Bank of America's customer support team will be there to provide you with all the answers you need.