…… - Question about a card I received in the mail (2024)

FAQs

…… - Question about a card I received in the mail? ›

Receiving an unsolicited card also could mean that a third party has applied for the card after stealing your identity. If you suspect identity theft, you should order a copy of your credit report. You can order one free credit report every 12 months through www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.

Sometimes, when you get credit cards in the mail that you haven't applied for, those are credit card offers—not actual, usable cards. You have to submit an application and be approved for credit before you get access to a functioning card.

If you receive a debit/credit card that you didn't apply for from a bank that you don't bank with, call the card's bank immediately. The bank will be able to clarify why you received the card or tell you if it's a scam. Do NOT use the contact numbers provided in the mail with the card.

If you received a store credit card you didn't sign up for, that means someone else likely signed you up without your permission. Issuing you a card without your permission violates the Truth in Lending Act and is considered fraud.

Call the number on the back of the card and tell the credit card company that you found it. They'll contact the card's owner for you. It's possible that the card was already reported as lost anyway, and the card company will issue a new card with a new number.

Identity thieves can retrieve account data from your card's magnetic strip using a device called a skimmer, which they can stash in ATMs and store card readers. They can then use that data to produce counterfeit cards. EMV chip cards, which are replacing magnetic strip cards, can reduce this risk. Spying.

Your Economic Impact Payment Card (EIP Card) contains the money you are receiving under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020 or the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

If you don't have proper security measures in place and the criminal obtains your debit card information, they can use it for fraudulent online or over-the-phone transactions. These types of transactions don't require a PIN or signature, making the criminal's job easier.

Why am I suddenly getting credit card offers? ›

If you're receiving credit card mail offers, it means credit card companies have decided you might be a good match for one of their products. It doesn't mean you're guaranteed approval if you respond, or that you already have an open account.

Credit card issuers may send you offers in the mail because they have identified you as part of their target audience for a certain card. They treat them as marketing material to persuade you to open a specific card.

Scammers steal credit card numbers in a variety of ways, such as through phishing attacks, hijacking payment forms, intercepting public Wi-Fi, and more. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 1.1 million identity theft reports, with nearly half of those involving credit card fraud [*].

Otherwise, if you receive an unsolicited card you should contact your bank promptly. Occasionally, a bank may issue a credit card in error. In such a case, you should direct the bank to close the account and remove any record of the account from your credit history.

The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.

As soon as you discover fraudulent activity, contact your bank and ask them to freeze your accounts and cancel any new credit cards or debit cards opened in your name. The sooner you report the fraud, the better chance you'll have of recovering any lost funds and minimizing the damage. Freeze or lock your credit.

This implies that unless you have specifically asked for and granted your unambiguous consent, credit card issuers (banks and NBFCs) are not permitted to send you a card.

You may continue to receive some credit card offers for several weeks because some credit card issuers may already have begun the prescreening process for your credit offer before your request was processed. You may also continue to receive credit mail from credit card companies you've worked with before.

Call your credit card issuer.

In cases of fraud, you should start by calling the company where the fraud took place — in this case, the credit card issuer. Explain to the credit card issuer that someone opened an account in your name and that they are trying to steal your identity.

An unsolicited credit card is a card sent to a consumer without their explicit request or application. It's typically issued by a financial institution aiming to acquire new customers, but the card cannot be activated without the recipient's consent.