“QUICK SECURITY TIPS”
with
Bruce Mandelblit
There are, unfortunately, thousands of lost and stolen purses and wallets each and every year.
Many people do not realize that losing the cash in their wallet or purse may actually be the least of their problems.
Do you know that a lost or stolen wallet or purse is a potential gold mine of information to identity thieves?
If your wallet or purse is missing or stolen, the following measures should be taken as soon as possible:
- File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy.
- Cancel your credit, debit and ATM cards immediately.
- Get “new” cards with “new” account numbers.
- Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies.
- Ask each agency to put out a fraud alert on your accounts.
- Report the loss to the fraud department at your bank.
- Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary.
- Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles.
- If your keys are missing, change the locks on your home and car.
Please note: Be sure to carefully review your credit reports to make sure no fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name and to check if any unauthorized changes were made to your existing accounts.
For more information contact your local law enforcement agency and visit FTC.gov.
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Bruce is a nationally known security and safety journalist, as well as a recently retired, highly decorated reserve law enforcement officer.
Bruce blogs at www.CrimeZilla.com.
This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.
The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.
