You took all the right steps to protect yourself, but the universe is cruel, so your credit card information was stolen. Here’s what to do next. First, take a deep breath and know that you’re not alone — credit card fraud (which is considered identity fraud) is more common than you may think. In the first half of 2024 alone, Canadians lost $284 million to identity fraud, though the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) estimates that only about 5% to 10% of fraud cases get reported. Once you stop seeing stars, reach out to your credit card issuer to cancel your card to stop any more charges from going through. For the charges that may have been accrued on your card, you’re typically only on the hook for up to $50, unless you were really careless in safeguarding your credit card information or report too late. It’s also a good idea to file a report with your local police. And to prevent further harm, make sure to contact the two credit bureaus in Canada: Equifax and TransUnion. They can place a fraud alert on your file, which means they’ll reach out to you if someone tries to open a new credit card in your name. Finally, be sure to report the fraud to the CAFC — it will help them track cases and possibly help you get money back. Between 2021 and 2023, more than $6 million was recovered with CAFC assistance.