What to Do if Your Credit Card is Lost or Stolen Abroad

Losing a credit card or having a card stolen is discomforting and frustrating. It takes days for the bank to confirm the loss, close the account, issue and send a new card and fulfill a range of other security measures before you’re able to use your new card.

When you’re home, there are several options available to access your money while you wait for a new card, but this is not the case when you’re traveling abroad. You may not have access to different accounts, ATMs are not as readily available and there is not a local bank branch you can quickly run into to access your money.

Here are some tips if your credit card gets stolen or lost while traveling abroad:

• Have multiple sources of access to your money. Instead of having access to only one account and a single debit card, bring two or even three cards. While it seems risky, having more than one option will prevent you from being stranded with little to no funds if you lose a card.
• Keep your bank informed. Always notify your bank when traveling. It only takes a minute and allows your bank to more closely track activity so that if a card is stolen, your bank can more quickly and easily resolve the issue. Not only do you want your bank to know where you are, you want them to be able to easily get in touch with you when something appears to be wrong. It might be a good idea to provide not only your primary contact number but even a secondary contact such as a travel companion or hotel phone number.
• Understand your bank’s international policies. Before you leave for a trip, call your bank and learn about their policies, transaction fees and how they handle international problems that may arise, such as insurance coverage and wire transfers.
• Use ATMs inside a bank branch or in a bank lobby. If you do have a back-up card and you’re able to take out money, avoid free-standing ATMs in random locations, as these are most often responsible for stolen card information.
• Locate a Western Union. If you’ve lost your card and don’t have another option, this is probably the best way to get cash anywhere in the world quickly. You will need to contact a family member or friend and have them do a Western Union transfer to you, and you can use your passport to pick up the money once it’s been sent.