You could call it "Bad Day at Bad Rock". That's how I remember the day my computer crashed and someone stole my purse (the dog). Unfortunately, what I didn't know was that my days would get worse, not better.
The capsule version of that day goes like this: computer goes dark and won't respond; danced with the online assistance-to no avail; carted the computer to "the Geeks" for professional assistance. Rushed back home to get the cord for the computer. (You know...the cord they said they wouldn't need.)
So far, so good, right? Not so.
After we pulled into our "secure gated community"' and entered our garage, we left the door opened. I left my purse inside the car. What could be the harm...the car's inside the garage, right? It'll just take a minute to get the cord, right? But, we were hungry and how long could it take to fix a sandwich to go? It all went to hell from there.
We were gone fifteen minutes max! When we went back to the garage, front and back doors on the driver's side were standing wide open. Instant panic grabbed us both. Needless to say, the purse that I left sitting on the floor under my seat, in my car parked inside my garage was gone, gone, gone.
Putting aside my outrage, I gathered my wits and grabbed the phone. I reported the theft to the police and settled in to cancel credit cards and close access to our bank accounts. Fortunately, I wasn't worried because I kept excellent records. Everything I needed was in a file...on our computer. Bad just got worse.
So my friend, I want to share the lessons I learned in the aftermath of this painful experience in order to save you from the same misery.
Remember. a stolen purse or lost wallet gives an identity thief all the information and documentation they need to take advantage of your good name and credit. Criminals can sell your identification very easily. As frustrating and scary as it is, there are many things you can do right now so that you aren’t victimized further. Here is what to do if your purse or wallet is stolen.
Call your credit card and ATM card issuers. Contact your bank or credit union’s fraud department and report the event.
It is best to contact customer service for each debit or credit card by phone and clearly explain that your card has been lost or stolen. Most Banks have plans in place to address this situation. Request account number changes. Be sure to understand your options here. One option is to call and completely cancel all your cards. This is almost never the right choice. Canceling credit cards that have an outstanding balance, or canceling a whole set of credit cards can have a negative impact on your credit score. Also, if you simply cancel cards, this may incite Banks to maximize the interest rate on any outstanding balance. Insist on new account numbers, and request transfer of any mileage or other card benefits. Same credit limits (important for maintaining credit score), same or better terms.
Open a report with local Police or Sheriff
Do not skip this step as it will be an essential piece of information if you do become an identity theft victim. Keep a copy of this police report for your records.
Likely questions during the report filing process:
When did you first notice your wallet was lost.Where do you think your purse was stolen or lost What items were in your wallet or purse at the time
Description of the stolen wallet or lost purse
Any suspects? Do you have a description?
Call credit reporting agencies and request a fraud alert be put on your account.
Equifax (800-525-6285; P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, Ga. 30348-5069)Experian (888-397-3742; P.O. Box 9530, Allen, Tex. 75013)
TransUnion (800-680-7289; P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, Cal. 92634)
This fraud alert will require creditors to verify your identity before approving any credit. Verification is often done by calling your phone number which will be placed in your credit file when you place a fraud alert.
Don't forget to call your utilities, including your telephone company. Tell them that someone may try to get new service using your identification.Order from Annual Credit Report the only government mandated free service. Look for and investigate any suspicious activity.
Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles. Guidelines for Re-issue of driver’s Licenses varies by state. Contact the DMV and ask about your state’s process.
If your keys are missing (Auto or Home) change the locks on your home and car.This important step is often neglected. If your purse was stolen, you have to remember that even if keys and other items are recovered, they may have been duplicated prior to recovery.
Begin a written list (inventory) of every item in the stolen wallet or lost purse.List everything, credit cards, Blockbuster cards, retail shopping cards, gift cards, cash estimate, lipstick, children’s information, etc. Keep the list with you and add to it, in a day or two you will have remembered nearly every item you had in your wallet or purse. This complete inventory will be very useful in detecting fraud and speeding your recovery.
Don't forget to report your cell phone missing. Contact your mobile carrier and insurance company.
Don't forget to report your cell phone missing. Contact your mobile carrier and insurance company.
Questions to ask yourself: Were there any blank checks in my purse when it was stolen
You didn’t have any account numbers or passwords in your wallet, did you?
Did you have any of those little plastic car or house keys?
ID cards for daycare or Sunday School pickup?
Cards or slips of paper with padlock, mailbox, or safe deposit box combinationsHave a detailed discussion with your bank
According to the Federal Trade Commission, no federal law limits your losses should someone obtain your checks and forge your signature. State laws usually hold the bank responsible in this case, but the Catch-22 comes when they also require you to “take reasonable care” of your account. Stay in the law’s good graces by closing your current checking account and reopening a new one, especially if you lost checks. The bank will notify its internal processors about the now defunct account, but the FTC recommends you call these check verification services to stop someone from using one of your checks at a merchant’s cash register:
TeleCheck 1-800-710-9898 or 927-0188
Certegy Inc. 1-800-770-3792
International Check Services 1-800-631-9656
International Check Services 1-800-631-9656
Consider a credit monitoring service. Remember that most identity theft happens long after the information was lost/stolen - sometimes several years can pass before anything creeps up. Fraud alerts only last three months. Credit monitoring is a great way to keep tabs on things.
This is a stressful situation and can leave one feeling violated and angry but knowing what to do when your purse is stolen is half the battle. If you act quickly using the guidelines above you can keep it from taking your stress to a whole new level and from becoming a major financial disaster or identity theft situation.
This is a stressful situation and can leave one feeling violated and angry but knowing what to do when your purse is stolen is half the battle. If you act quickly using the guidelines above you can keep it from taking your stress to a whole new level and from becoming a major financial disaster or identity theft situation.
Sources: IdentityTheftLabs.com; PurseBlog.com; About.com; Kiplinger.com
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