Debit card fraud does not wait for anyone to get organized. The clock starts the second that unauthorized charge hits an account, and every hour that passes can change how much money stays protected. That surprises a lot of people. Many assume banks will simply “take care of it” no matter when they report a problem. Federal law does offer strong protections, but those protections come with deadlines. Miss them, and the amount of money at risk can rise quickly.
Understanding those time limits and knowing exactly what to do first can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a financial nightmare.
