A lost or stolen wallet or purse is a gold mine of information to identity thieves.
If your wallet or purse is missing or stolen ………
- 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 review your credit report to make sure no fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name and to check if any unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts.
For more information, go to FTC.gov.
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.
