Are Credit Cards Still Safe? Know The Do’s And Don’ts Before You Swipe

RBI’s April 2024 fraud report shows banks lost ₹36,014 crore in FY 2023–24, with credit card fraud surging as digital payments expanded. The findings highlight the growing need for stronger awareness of credit card fraud dos and don’ts.

Many people now wonder how safe online payments really are. The main trigger this year was the sharp rise in card spending. A Loansjagat news update published in September 2025 explained that credit card spending touched ₹1.91 trillion in August 2025. Banks issued 7 lakh new cards in the same month. Larger volumes opened more doors for crime groups who used fake KYC alerts, cloned sites and remote access links.

A sharp rise in reported cases followed. Several users in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Lucknow recorded unauthorised withdrawals through app links sent by unknown callers. These callers posed as card teams. This pattern worries banks that monitor transaction trails each day.

Fraud Numbers Uploaded On Data.Gov.In

The table below shows the sharp jump recorded in three financial years. 

This explains why banks raised alerts and why credit card fraud dos and don'ts are now part of every advisory.

What Does Credit Card Fraud Mean?

Credit card fraud occurs when a criminal makes a transaction without the cardholder’s consent by using stolen or false details. 

The RBI Master Direction on Credit Card Operations updated in September 2025 explains this as any payment executed through stolen identity, unauthorised access or forged data. This definition covers phishing links, cloned cards, manipulated virtual card numbers and device-based breaches.

Fraud has moved deeper into device control, telecom routing and app permissions. Many victims click a link that mirrors a bank page. Others trust OTP alerts that carry false sender IDs. This is why credit card fraud do’s and don'ts now target simple checks: avoid unknown links, block a card the moment misuse is seen, and file the case early.

Where to Report Credit Card Fraud?

To guide users with a correct reporting path, a list of official channels is placed below. These portals allow a user to freeze the risk and file records in the right format.

Each platform keeps a digital trail that banks can track.

The pattern of misuse seen this year resembles a past incident, where a call centre breach in Gurugram led to a ₹2.6 crore credit card fraud network. The earlier case showed how criminals misused partial customer details to make fake profiles. The current wave reflects the same weakness. More cards in circulation made the target pool wider, while many users stayed unaware of unknown prompts or suspicious KYC messages.

Conclusion 

Credit card fraud is rising quickly in India, mainly because more people are using cards and digital payments every day. This makes it important for users to stay alert and follow basic safety steps like avoiding unknown links, checking messages properly and reporting any wrong transaction immediately.

As digital payments grow further in 2026, both banks and customers need to work together to stay safe. Using official complaint portals and keeping simple safety habits can protect cardholders and reduce the chances of fraud.
 

Apply for Loans Fast and Hassle-Free

Apply Now

About the Author

LoansJagat Team

‘Simplify Finance for Everyone.’ This is the common goal of our team, as we try to explain any topic with relatable examples. From personal to business finance, managing EMIs to becoming debt-free, we do extensive research on each and every parameter, so you don’t have to. Scroll up and have a look at what 15+ years of experience in the BFSI sector looks like.