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Getting Purse-onal
 sst...Want to know a secret?
A lost or stolen wallet or
purse is a gold mine of
information for a new kind
of crook--the identity thief.
Identity thieves can use information
found in your wallet or purse-from
credit cards, checks, your Social Security
card, even health insurance cards-to
establish new accounts in your name.
That could create an identity crisis that
can take months to detect, and even
longer to unravel.
If your wallet/purse is lost or stolen, the
Federal Trade Commission suggests you:
- File a report with the police
immediately. Get a copy in case your
financial institution, credit card
company or insurance company
needs proof of the crime.
- Cancel each credit and charge card. Get new cards with new account
numbers. Call the fraud departments
of the major credit reporting agencies:
Equifax (800) 525-6285; Experian
(888) 397-3742;TransUnion (800) 680-
7289; Ask them to put a "fraud alert"
on your account and add a "victim's
statement" to your file requesting that
creditors contact you before opening
new accounts in your name.
- Ask the credit bureaus for copies of
your credit reports. Review your
reports carefully to make sure no
additional fraudulent accounts have
been opened in your name or
unauthorized changes made to your
existing accounts. In a few months,
order new copies of your reports to
to make sure no new fraudulent
activity has occurred.
- Report the loss to your financial
institution if your wallet or purse
contained financial account
information, including account
numbers,ATM cards or checks.
Cancel checking and savings
accounts and open new ones. Stop
payments on outstanding checks.
- Get a new ATM card, account
number and Personal Identification
Number (PIN) or password.
- Report your missing driver's license
to the department of motor vehicles. If your state uses your Social Security
number as your driver's license
number, substitute another number.
- Change the locks on your home and
car if your keys were taken. Don't give
an identity thief access to even more
personal property and information.
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