What should a cardholder do if they have doubts regarding the source of a phone call or text?

When a cardholder has doubts regarding the source of a phone call or text, the best course of action is to call the toll-free number on the back of the card. This approach ensures that the cardholder is reaching out to the legitimate organization associated with their card, allowing for verification of any claims or requests made during the suspicious communication.

Using the toll-free number helps prevent potential scams, as it connects the cardholder directly to the official customer service, where they can confirm whether the communication was genuine or a phishing attempt. This method is secure and reduces the risk of further exposing personal information to potential fraudsters.

Other actions, such as ignoring the call or text, might leave unresolved doubts and could potentially be risky if the communication was indeed important. Meanwhile, contacting local authorities does not directly address the specific concerns related to the card and could add unnecessary complexity to the situation. Responding to the message may further compromise the cardholder's security, as it may signal to an attacker that they have an active target. Therefore, utilizing the official toll-free number is the safest and most effective response in this scenario.