Fact Sheet 104
MY WALLET OR PDA WAS LOST OR STOLEN
NOW WHAT?

This guide covers:

• What Was In Your Wallet? A way to inventory your belongings
• What Other Information Was In Your Palm Pilot?
• Do Immediately
• Do As Soon As Possible
• All Other Cards
• Tips For Dealing With The Authorities And Financial Institutions
• Preventive Tips
• Resources You Might Need

While a lost or stolen wallet or PDA may simply mean the loss of your cash and credit cards, it may also be the beginning of an identity theft case. Let’s hope for the best while taking steps to reduce your risk of identity theft. The return of the item does not guarantee that cards were not copied, so you need to proceed as if the items were stolen.
 
This guide will serve as a starting point of what to do and whom to call. If the situation evolves into identity theft, please refer to our other self-help guides and/or contact our office. 

What Was In Your Wallet?

___Social Security number (SSN) usually printed on card

___ Driver’s license - Did it have your SSN on it? Yes No

___ Credit cards (itemize)

___ Vehicle registration papers

___ ATM/ Debit cards/ Bank cards

___ Check cashing card, bank checks (your own account)

___ Your Social Security card **

___ Social Security cards or numbers for any other family members (spouse, children)

___ AAA or other auto insurance card

___ Library card

___ Video store card - (i.e. Blockbuster)

___ Health insurance/prescription/dental benefit card - Did it have your SSN on it?

___ Employee or student ID card - Did it have your SSN on it? Yes No

___ Military ID card **

___ Medicare or MediCal card **

___ Green card or immigration papers

___ Passport

___ Health club card - Did it have your SSN on it? Yes No

___ Long distance calling card – pin number printed on card

___ Long distance calling card – pin number not printed on card

___ Prepaid phone cards – Nonrenewable

___ Prepaid phone cards – Renewable

___ Any bills/statements you may have been carrying (i.e., telephone, electricity, credit card)

___ Birth certificate

___ Store club cards (supermarket, Sams Club, Costco)

___ Professional licenses (doctor, nurse, etc.)

___ Discount cards or passes (movie, amusement parks)

What other information was in your PDA or Palm Pilot?

___ Any numbers or codes from the items above

___ Addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and birthdates for friends, family, or business associates (some of these could lead to identity theft)

___ Codes, passwords, authorization information

___ Company proprietary information or intellectual property

Steps to take immediately:

1. Police report: Report the crime/loss to your local law enforcement agency. Give them a list of the items it contained (see above). Request a copy of the report. You might need it later. ITRC also recommends getting the business card or name of the officer who took the report, the report number and a phone number to call if you have additional questions. 
    
2. Credit or Fraud Alerts: Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) by telephone. Use the “Report Fraud” numbers for each CRA (listed at the end of this document). You will reach an automated system that allows you to provide your phone number. We highly recommend you include a home or cell phone number. See Fact Sheet 100 and Fact Sheet 124 for details on fraud alerts.
    
   Ask for a fraud alert and your free report as a potential victim of id theft. The CRA’s are required to provide you with a complimentary credit report when you place a fraud alert. This report gives you the opportunity to check for any pending credit applications and to verify that all the current information is correct. It becomes an accurate baseline for the fraud alert and may alert you to suspicious activity. (See ITRC-Debix message)
    
   In 2 to 3 months you should begin to use the annual credit report system. For more information see Fact Sheet 125. If there are problems, please go to our Fact Sheet 100 for guidance. If your Social Security Number is being used, you may want to consider a “credit freeze” explained in Fact Sheet 124. 
    
3. If your Driver’s license or vehicle registration was taken, contact the state agency that issues driver’s licenses. Place a stolen/lost card warning on your file. At this time, request a replacement. If you discover that a thief is using your license, you can request a license number change. If your state uses your SSN as your driver’s license number, request an alternate number be used for the new card. If your vehicle registration papers are missing, notify your state agency of this as well. 
    
4. If you are missing credit cards or copies of bills contact the credit issuers that issued the stolen/lost card(s). Request replacement cards with new account numbers. A Federal law, FCRA Section 609e, requires credit grantors to furnish copies of any fraudulent transactions for that account. Monitor your mail for collection notices, missing statements or bills. Check bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. Report problems immediately to credit grantors. 
    
5. If you have lost checking account numbers, savings account numbers, checks, ATM cards, or debit cards: Contact the bank immediately and close the account. Open a new account with a new number. Add a password on the account. It sometimes helps to go directly to the local branch and speak face-to-face with a bank manager or fraud investigator. Do not waste time explaining your case to a teller. 
    
6. If you lost a check cashing card: Notify your bank immediately. Cancel the card and request assistance on what to do next. 
    
7. If you are missing supermarket club cards, including check cashing: Notify the store, cancel the card, and request a new card. 
    
8. If you have lost long distance calling card with pin number printed on the card: Cancel the card immediately and request a replacement card. Do not have your pin number printed on the card. Change password on the account. 
    
9. Library and video store cards: Contact the issuing company/agency. Ask for that account to be closed and another opened with a replacement number. You may also want to add a password to the new account.
    
10. If your Social Security Card was lost or stolen: The following year in June (you have to wait till after that year's taxes are filed), c ontact the Social Security Administration and ask for a copy your Personal Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement. (Click here to download the application and fee list)   Check it over to see if it is correct and does not show more jobs than you have had. Read our Fact Sheet 100A for further information.

Things to Do As Soon As You Can:

1. Workplace theft: If your wallet or PDA was lost or stolen at work, notify both the HR and Security Departments. You might recommend a notice be posted warning other personnel to take additional security precautions. For example, women should not be storing wallets or purses in unlocked, desk drawers. 
    
2. All other cards with a membership or identification number printed on the card (SSN or another number): Contact the issuing company, school, or employer. Notify them of the loss and request a replacement card with a new account number. In the event that the SSN was the membership number, request that an alternate number be used or that a letter be added to the membership number. This will help to separate your usage from that of the thief. 
    
3. Auto insurance/AAA: Notify the insurance company immediately. You don’t want someone using your information in the event of an accident. Request a replacement policy number. 
    
4. Military ID cards: Notify the personnel support detachment (PSD) and your immediate chain of command up to the commanding officer. Apply for a new ID card. In the event that a dependant’s ID card is involved, notify your immediate supervisor, the PSD, and secure a replacement. 
    
5. Renewable long distance calling cards: Contact the company. Request that they transfer any remaining minutes to another card with a new account number. Close the account to the card. 
    
6. Green Card or immigration papers: Contact the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as your country’s embassy. 
    
7.  Passports: Notify the U.S. State Department. Web: http://travel.state.gov/passport/lost/lost_849.html In the event the passport was issued by another country, notify the issuing country’s embassy.

All Other Cards:

1. Supermarket club cards, not for check cashing: Do not worry about these.
    
2. Prepaid phone cards, not renewable: Say goodbye and write these off as a loss. 
    
3. Birth certificate: Notify the issuing county recorders office of the loss. Request they flag your account. In the future, do not carry this on your person unless needed that day. 
    
4. Discount passes: Notify the issuing business and see if they have a replacement policy.

Tips For Dealing With The Authorities And Financial Institutions:

• Keep a log of all conversations, receipts for expenses, and other pertinent items. See Fact Sheet 106 (Organizing Your Case).
• Request a written verification that accounts have been closed (including time and date), and/or a confirmation number.
• Send correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested.
• Keep copies of all letters and documents that you send and receive.
• Whenever possible, speak with a fraud investigator and not a customer-service representative. If you are not satisfied with the answers given, request to speak with a supervisor. Keep going up the chain of command until you reach a decision-maker.
• Add passwords to bank, utility and credit accounts. This password should not be your mother’s maiden name or a word that acquaintances might know (i.e., your dog’s name). You might want to combine two words to make a new one- appleorange.

Preventitive Tips:

1. Wallets: Photocopy the front and back of all important cards you carry including credit cards. Keep this info in a locked box. 
    
2. Palm Pilots: Use password protection so that if your PDA is turned on by an unauthorized user only a log-in screen will appear. Add instructions on how to contact you to return the device. Most password products range in features and price ($10-$30). Some of the more full-featured products offer data encryption, while others simply offer a password on startup, leaving the data in the device unencrypted. You should also keep a backup of the data on your PDA to use as a starting inventory should it be lost. 
    
3. Close credit card accounts you don’t use any longer. If you haven’t used a card for at least 6 months, you probably don’t need it. Only carry one or two cards on a daily basis. 
    
4. Purses with shoulder straps should be tucked under an arm. Make sure that your purse is in your line of vision. Book bags and carry-alls that hang over your back, out of sight, are easy targets. 
    
5. For men and women: Use a fanny pack to store your wallet and valuables when you know you will be in large crowds. Place the pack so that it is in front of your body and always in your line of vision. Any fanny pack used should have a cable in the strap and reinforced bottom to prevent slicing, plus additional inside zippers to keep things compartmentalized.

Resources You Might Need:

• Credit reporting bureaus:
  • Equifax : P.O. Box 105069
    Atlanta, GA 30348.
    • Report fraud: Call (800) 525-6285, or write to address above.
    • Order credit report: (800) 685‑1111.
    • Web: www.equifax.com
       
  • Experian (formerly TRW):
    P.O. Box 9701
    Allen, TX 75013.
    • Report fraud: Call (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742),
      or write to address above.
    • Fax: (800) 301-7196.
    • Order credit report: (888) EXPERIAN.
    • Web: www.experian.com  
       
  • TransUnion:
    P.O. Box 6790
    Fullerton, CA 92834.
    • Report fraud: (800) 680‑7289, and write to address above.
    • Order credit report: (800) 888-4213.
    • Web: www.transunion.com  
       
• Social Security Administration :
  • Report fraud: (800) 269‑0271.
  • E-mail: oig.hotline@ssa.gov
  • Web: www.ssa.gov
  • Social Security Administration
    Office of the Inspector General
    P.O. Box 17768
    Baltimore, MD 21235.
     
• To report fraudulent use of your checks:
  • ChexSystems (800) 428-9623
  • CPRS/Certegy (800) 437-5120
  • ICS  (800) 526-5380
  • SCAN (800) 262-7771
  • TeleCheck (800) 710-9898

Copyright February 2007, Identity Theft Resource Center®, all rights reserved.
Created by ITRC
This fact sheet should not be used in lieu of legal advice. Any requests to reproduce this material, other than by individual victims for their own use, should be directed to ITRC

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