When Thieves Target Your Cards: How I Spent My Saturday Protecting My Financial Future

A weekend of cancellation calls became a masterclass in protecting the wealth we’ve worked so hard to build as women in our community.

Saturday should have been for family, relaxation, or community. Instead, I spent it on hold with customer service representatives, canceling cards, and rebuilding the security fortress around my financial life. This unexpected journey taught me lessons our community can’t afford to ignore.

The Warning Signs

It started innocently enough.  I received a fraud alert from my bank about suspicious transactions in Florida and Germany, places where I definitely wasn’t shopping. I did the minimum by freezing my account but made a critical mistake: I put off checking on my other cards.

“I’ll handle it later,” I thought. Big mistake.

Days later, Best Buy send me a text letting me know that my new $800 Microsoft tablet would be ready for pickup in about an hour.  I immediately logged into my account and cancelled the purchase.  It started to become painfully clear that my information was out there on the internet and it was being put to (mis)use.

Taking Back Control: My Financial Defense Playbook

That Saturday became an intensive crash course in financial security:

1. I canceled every card – YES EVERY CARD.
2. I placed fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion)
3. I changed passwords across all my accounts.
4. I enabled two-factor authentication everywhere it was offered.  I used to think it was an extra step to make my life more complicated, but not anymore.

I will also note that as I was cancelling another card, that a representative was verifying a recent purchase which had literally been made three hours before my call, so my quest to cancel of all my cards was not an overreaction.

The Uncomfortable Truth We Women Need to Discuss

Financial fraud disproportionately impacts our community, and women often bear an additional burden. Studies show African Americans are 2.5 times more likely to experience identity theft compared to white Americans, and women are frequently targeted in specific ways. This isn’t just about inconvenience—it’s about protecting the generational wealth and financial stability that we, as Black women, have worked twice as hard to build.

When our accounts are compromised, we lose more than money—we lose precious time away from our families and businesses, peace of mind, and sometimes opportunities while we’re distracted putting out these fires. As primary financial decision-makers in many of our households, the responsibility often falls on our shoulders to both prevent and clean up these messes.

Building Your Layered Defense Strategy

Think of security like layers of an onion. One layer might be breached, but others can still protect your core financial identity:

First Layer: Proactive Prevention

• Use strong, unique passwords (at least 12 characters with mixed case, numbers and symbols)
• Consider a password manager like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden.  I just started with LastPass.
• Enable two-factor authentication on all financial accounts
• Be skeptical of emails requesting account verification (most are phishing attempts)
• Avoid saving credit card information on websites when possible

Second Layer: Smart Transaction Habits

• Use credit cards instead of debit cards for better fraud protection.
• Consider virtual credit card numbers for online shopping.  I did some searching and found Privacy.com that generate temporary numbers if your company doesn’t offer virtual numbers.  There are others out there, so do your own research.
• Be wary of public Wi-Fi for financial transactions (use a VPN if necessary).
• Always verify websites are secure (look for “https://” and the padlock icon).
• Limit stored payment methods: This was my big wake-up call. I had cards saved on dozens of accounts, including multiple cards on Amazon. Security experts recommend minimizing stored payment information across online retailers. For sites you rarely use, select “Don’t save my card” even if it’s less convenient. For Amazon and other frequently used services, consider keeping just one card on file and regularly reviewing your saved payment methods.

Third Layer: Vigilant Monitoring

• Check your credit card accounts bi-weekly, at a minimum.
• Set up account alerts for all unusual activity.
• Monitor your credit report regularly (AnnualCreditReport.com offers free reports).

My Personal Commitment as a Woman Building Wealth

This experience transformed how I approach my financial security as a woman committed to building generational wealth. Financial protection is no longer an afterthought but a cornerstone of my wealth-building strategy. In our community, where Black women are often the financial anchors of our families while facing both gender and racial wealth gaps, protecting what we’ve built isn’t just prudent—it’s absolutely necessary.

Two other specific changes that I’ve made: I went through my Amazon account and removed all but one carefully selected credit card, despite having previously stored six different payment methods for “convenience.” I did the same with every online account I have. I’m positive that that small step alone has significantly reduced my exposure.  CashApp is another one that’s super convenient but I received up to ten notifications per day of failed transactions. I have decided to part ways with the app because its obvious the threat is real and I’m playing a game of cat and mouse, unnecessarily.  Removing and adding my card every time I use it is cumbersome but it may also be just the window that a thief needs to make a purchase, so the convenience is no longer worth it.

I plan on making financial security a regular topic in my household, ensuring my family understands these threats aren’t abstract but very real with significant consequences for the legacy we’re trying to build. As women, we’re often so busy taking care of everyone else that we neglect these protective measures for ourselves.

Sister, It’s Your Turn

Have you experienced something similar? As women in our community, we need to share these experiences and strategies with each other. What additional steps do you take to protect your financial information? How many cards do you have saved across your online accounts right now? (Be honest—I won’t judge after what I just shared!)

Share in the comments below, and let’s protect each other’s financial futures.

Remember: For us as women building generational wealth, protection is just as important as acquisition. We can’t afford to lose what we’ve worked so hard to build.