Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc, you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. We've all heard horror stories about the fraud that can be committed using your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happen to be an attorney) have first hand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieves) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this).

Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

What should you do if you loose your wallet?

Notify the Police immediately.

If you find that your wallet is missing in a retail store, contact the store manager or security personnel immediately so employees can be alerted. It is not uncommon for a thief to remain in the same store and make charges on your credit card.

Contact each credit card issuer and cancel them immediately. Even if your wallet is discovered, it may be a good idea to close your accounts. This will prevent any future fraudulent activity should the thief have access to your account numbers and identification while the wallet was missing. General policy is that you are responsible for the first $50.00 of unauthorized charges on a credit card. In many instances, a consumer is not charged this first $50.00 if the theft is reported quickly.

If your checkbook is missing, contact your bank and cancel your checking account immediately. It is recommended that a new account be established rather than canceling check numbers or a booklet series. It is not uncommon for the criminal to use the checks months after the theft to make unauthorized withdrawals or print additional checks using your information. Recall the last check you wrote and have the bank stop payment on any checks after that number.

If you lose your ATM card, get a new one with a different password and account number. For security purposes, it is encouraged that you commit your password to memory and never write it down in your wallet or purse. Passwords or personal identification numbers (PIN) with your birthday, last four digits of your social security number, middle name or anything else that a criminal could discover should be avoided.

If your keys have been stolen, it is recommended that you change the locks on your car or house immediately.

Consider subscribing to a credit security service offered by some banks and credit card issuers. This service will register all your credit cards and important documents. If your cards are ever lost or stolen, this service will notify your credit card issuer, cancel them and order you new ones.

Identity and Wallet Theft Prevention

By Teresa Jardon, Counselor, University of Wisconsin--River Falls

Following the theft of my purse from my office at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in July of 1999, I found myself in a circumstance unlike any I had ever encountered. The work of clearing up $10,000 in forged checks and unauthorized credit card usage took months and hundreds of additional dollars. With this article, I hope to help others prevent becoming a victim of this type of theft and provide information on how to ease the challenge of cleaning up after a theft.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

The fewer pieces of information you carry in your wallet or purse, the less you have for a thief to steal. Keep a list of everything you carry in your purse or wallet along with the following information for each:

Credit cards: numbers, expiration dates, institutions that issued them

Identity cards: driver's license, university ID, gym or health club membership card
Blood donation card or insurance cards: these often have your SSN printed on them.
Affinity and membership cards: Frequent flyer cards, Sam's Club membership cards, etc.

On the back of each credit card, write "REQUIRE PICTURE ID" in the signature block. As soon as you recognize how few clerks even look at the signature, you will see how this theft continues at such an uncontrollable pace.

NEVER carry your Social Security Card unless you are going to need it that day for completing paperwork for a new job. As soon as you are finished with it, keep it in a secure place within your home. If any of your credit, identity, or affinity cards have your social security number on them, request new cards from those companies.

Clean your purse or wallet on a regular basis. Remove credit card receipts as soon as possible, as these carry a record of your signature on them.

Assign passwords to your credit card, bank, phone, and brokerage accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, birth date, etc.

When you find a theft has been committed:

1. Call the police immediately. While you wait for them to arrive, call each of the three major credit bureaus to notify them of the theft. Experian (888-397-3742), TransUnion (800-680-7289) and Equifax (800-525-6285) can help prevent your credit cards and checks from being used following the theft. The next call should be to your bank and credit card companies to notify them of your loss. Provide as much information as possible, even if you think it's slight or irrelevant.

2. Start a journal, making notes of the date and time of every trip to the post office, bank, and police station, every phone call to a store or credit card company, with whom you spoke, and a couple of notes about the conversation. Regardless of the memory you have, if the perpetrator is apprehended and goes on trial in two years, you will be very thankful for these notes.

3. Keep copies of EVERYTHING: affidavits, notes, and receipts. These will be valuable to collect reimbursement from the criminal and in proving timeliness and innocence in case you encounter problems with your credit history.

The Legal Aspect: Affidavits

Some banks will file affidavits for you; others require you to do it. Either way, include the following information to include on an affidavit: State and county of residence.

1.) Your name, along with a sworn statement

2.) Current residential and mailing addresses, social security number, home and work phone numbers.

3.) A description of the credit card transaction or information about the check: number, to whom it was made payable, and the amount. Indicate that this was a fraudulent or unauthorized transaction.

4.) A statement that neither you, nor anyone with consent, expects to benefit from this transaction.

5.) The date and location of the theft. Also indicate information on the police report that has been filed: the date filed, the jurisdiction or precinct, and the case number, case worker, and phone number.

6.) The name on the account.

7.) A statement regarding the possible perpetrator, if known.

8.) A sample of your signature

9.) A statement that you understand an investigation will ensue and that you agree to cooperate with prosecution

Follow this information with your signature and date and provide the standard information for having the form notarized.

If you are responsible for preparing the affidavits, make multiple copies, to be distributed as follows:

Bank or credit union,

Police Department,

Merchant or card issuer,

Copy for collection agency, if necessary,

and finally, make sure you have your own personal copy.

To the last copy, attach all information pertinent to that affidavit. In my file, attachments to each affidavit include: receipts for certified mail, return receipts, notes from conversations with store managers, collection notices, and copies of letters I have sent to the respective company. In a few instances, you might want to meter your envelopes instead of using stamps (useful when the letter is dated May 1 but not postmarked until May 15, but the company is asking for a reply by May 12).

For more information:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a toll free number (877-ID-THEFT) for victims to report the crime and get advice from trained counselors. They also provide a 21-page booklet available at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

STOLEN OR LOST FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Before you lose your wallet, purse, credit cards, passport:

1. Fill in the Financial Information List with all the telephone numbers for your cards along with your banks.

2. Photocopy both sides of the contents of your wallet: Credit cards; Drivers license; Bank cards; etc.

OR fill in the information below. Keep this information in a secure place so it isn't stolen.

3. Shred all offers for credit cards with your name on the application.

4. Do not put your Social Security # on checks, letter heads, or driver's license. Also, leave that Soc Sec card at home.

1. ISSUER OF CREDIT CARD	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER
CREDIT CARD #	EXPIRATION DATE	CREDIT LIMIT / CUT OFF DATE
2. ISSUER OF CREDIT CARD	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER
CREDIT CARD #	EXPIRATION DATE	CREDIT LIMIT / CUT OFF DATE
3. ISSUER OF CREDIT CARD	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER
CREDIT CARD #	EXPIRATION DATE	CREDIT LIMIT / CUT OFF DATE
NAME OF BANK (CHECKING ACCOUNT)	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER
ACCOUNT # (KEEP PIN # IN SEPARATE LOCATION)	NAMES ON ACCOUNT
NAME OF BANK (SAVINGS ACCOUNT)	ADDRESS	TELEPHONE NUMBER
ACCOUNT #	NAMES ON ACCOUNT

After your wallet or purse is stolen to prevent damage to your identity in the United States:

Report the loss to your police department and file a report.

Call your credit card companies and banks and cancel the accounts.

Place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security # by calling the national credit reporting companies

	Equifax: (800) 685-1111 www.equifax.com
	Experian (866) 200-6020 www.experian.com
	Trans Union (800) 888-4213 www.transunion.com

Call the Social Security Administration fraud line 1-800-269-0271

Call the ID Theft Resource Center (858) 693-7935 www.idtheftcenter.org

Call the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Hotline (877) 438-4338

If your passport was stolen, report the loss to your government

Xxxxxx

If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, we suggests that you:

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.

File a report with the police immediately. Get a copy in case your bank, credit card company or insurance company needs proof of the crime.
Cancel each credit and charge card. Get new cards with new account numbers. l 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 verify your corrections and changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
Report the loss to your bank if your wallet or purse contained bank 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, ask to 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.

Xxxxx

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed in stealing a name, address, Social Security, credit cards, etc. Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

We have been told we should cancel your credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Xxxxx

ID Theft: Your Wallet - A Loser's Manual

A thief who takes your wallet can steal your identity, too, and use your good name to run up big bills. Here's how to protect your money and your credit record and your sanity if your wallet is lost or stolen.

Consider this: Your wallet is stolen. You immediately call your bank and credit card company to report the problem, close old accounts and open new ones. You feel fairly confident that the incident is behind you.

But a few weeks later you receive a threatening notice to pay a "past-due" bill for some merchandise you know you never purchased. Next, your application for an auto loan gets rejected because of a poor credit history, when you know you never missed a loan payment or bounced a check in your life. Shocked, you immediately call one of the major credit bureaus (also called a credit reporting agency), which informs you that numerous accounts have been opened, using your name and Social Security number, and with thousands of dollars in debts to stores, credit cards, utilities and other companies. The good news: Your actual liability for these unauthorized purchases is limited by law or industry standards. The bad news: You still spend many frustrating hours trying to clear your name and straighten out your credit history.

Sound like fiction? It's not. It could happen to you any time, anywhere. We're talking about "identity theft" - situations where a con artist obtains charge cards or enough personal information to establish new accounts in your name.

"Most of us assume that thieves are interested in cash when they steal a wallet, but in many cases the cash may be the least valuable item," says Pete Hirsch, a fraud examiner with the FDIC's Division of Supervision in Washington. "Your wallet can provide a criminal with ready access to sensitive information that can be used to steal your identity, drain bank accounts and make it difficult for you to obtain credit in the future."

Identity theft is on the rise in the United States and, unfortunately, many consumers don't know how to adequately protect themselves or the contents of their wallets. People too often assume that when a wallet is lost or stolen they simply need to cancel their "plastic" (credit, debit, and ATM cards) and replace lost identification. But there are other steps, including some preventive measures, that you can take to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Here's a collection of tips and information from FDIC Consumer News that we think can help you protect against all kinds of financial fraud, even if you never lose your wallet. Remember: A con artist doesn't need to steal your wallet to steal your money and your identity. A sophisticated thief simply needs a little information about you - perhaps one of your credit card numbers or your Social Security number - to make purchases or obtain new accounts in your name. So some of the suggestions in this report can help.

Preventive Measures

One simple way to protect yourself against identity theft is to limit the amount of confidential information you carry in your wallet. Experts recommend that you not carry around bank account numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs), passports, birth certificates, and most importantly, Social Security cards. (Although many states continue to use Social Security numbers on drivers' licenses, this practice is changing.)

Avoid carrying more blank checks than you really need. Not only can a thief cash checks or use them for purchases, but a crook also can make use of the sensitive information often pre-printed on your checks (your address, bank account number, even your telephone number). Many consumers even print their driver's license number or Social Security number on their checks. That's a definite no-no, because either number could help a thief apply for a loan, credit card or bank account in your name.

Keep good backup information about your accounts, just in case your wallet is lost or stolen. You'll want account numbers and phone numbers that can be used to report your losses or request new cards or emergency cash. Some people recommend photocopying your credit, debit, and ATM cards, as well as your driver's license and passport information. Another approach is to simply list key numbers on a handy sheet of paper, and we've given you a start with this checklist.

"Keep these numbers in safekeeping or else they can become tools for someone with criminal intent," says Deirdre Foley of the FDIC's Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs in Washington. You'll also want ready access to these papers, too. That's why a safe deposit box or other restricted area might not be a good storage place for these numbers in case you need immediate access at night or on a weekend or holiday.

If you're going on vacation, Ken Baebel, also from the Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs, recommends taking along a list of the toll-free telephone numbers for your banking and credit card companies not your card numbers and keeping the list in a safe place other than your wallet. "If you lose your wallet while you're away from home, having those phone numbers will help you quickly report the problem and get replacement cash or cards," he says.

Why not take a list of card numbers with you on your trip? "The card numbers alone can be just as valuable to a thief as the actual cards themselves, if not more valuable," explains Gene Seitz, a fraud investigator in the FDIC's Division of Supervision in Washington. "If someone steals your wallet, you'll probably notice that right away. But if someone steals a list of card numbers from your suitcase, you might not be so quick to realize that, and that just gives the thief more time to run up fraudulent charges."

Consider canceling any credit cards you don't really need or use. Among the reasons: A thief can dust off a "dormant" card and use card numbers and other personal information to make purchases or get a new card. You'll only find out about the problem when the collection notices arrive at your address.

Never give out personal information (such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers or your address) over the telephone unless you initiate the call, and it's to a well-known and trusted outfit. Also try not to provide personal information when using a check or plastic for purchases at a cash register. Many states even prohibit merchants from requiring personal details.

Don't just toss away those credit card applications you receive in the mail and don't intend to apply for. Shred them as best you can. Crooks can easily use these applications to establish accounts in your name and then change the mailing address so you're unaware of the fraud until it's too late. Also, if you don't want to receive unsolicited credit card applications in the mail, by law you can demand that your name be removed from the marketing lists that credit bureaus sell to credit grantors looking for new customers. To "opt out" of these mailings, call any one of the following credit bureaus at these toll-free numbers specifically established for this purpose: Equifax at (800) 556-4711, Experian at (800) 353-0809, or Trans Union at either (800) 241-2858 or (800) 680-7293.

Review your credit card bills and your checking account statements as soon as they arrive, to ensure that no fraudulent activity is taking place. Also make sure you get a statement from your creditors every month. If no statement arrives, that could be a sign that someone has changed your billing address for fraudulent purposes. And, finally, periodically request a copy of your credit report and check for signs that someone has opened accounts in your name. The three major credit bureaus and their toll-free numbers for requesting copies of your credit report are: Equifax at (800) 685-1111, Experian at (800) 682-7654, and Trans Union at (800) 888-4213. If you've been denied credit, you may be entitled to a free copy of your report.

While it may seem obvious, it can't hurt to mention a few basic words about protecting your wallet: Don't take out your wallet until you actually need it, and don't forget your wallet before leaving a restaurant, store or any public place. And never put your wallet down alongside a cash register, in a phone booth or even on top of your car.

A good rule of thumb: Never set down your wallet unless your hand is attached to it.

Xxxx

Your Wallet: A Loser's ManualA thief who takes your wallet can steal your identity, too, and use your good name to run up big bills. Here's how to protect your money and your credit record and your sanity if your wallet is lost or stolen.

But a few weeks later you receive a threatening notice to pay a "past-due" bill for some merchandise you know you never purchased. Next, your application for an auto loan gets rejected because of a poor credit history, when you know you never missed a loan payment or bounced a check in your life. Shocked, you immediately call one of the major credit bureaus (also called a credit reporting agency), which informs you that numerous accounts have been opened, using your name and Social Security number, and with thousands of dollars in debts to stores, credit cards, utilities and other companies. The good news: Your actual liability for these unauthorized purchases is limited by law or industry standards. The bad news: You still spend many frustrating hours trying to clear your name and straighten out your credit history.

Sound like fiction? It's not. It could happen to you any time, anywhere. We're talking about "identity theft"- situations where a con artist obtains charge cards or enough personal information to establish new accounts in your name.

"Most of us assume that thieves are interested in cash when they steal a wallet, but in many cases the cash may be the least valuable item," says Pete Hirsch, a fraud examiner with the FDIC's Division of Supervision in Washington. "Your wallet can provide a criminal with ready access to sensitive information that can be used to steal your identity, drain bank accounts and make it difficult for you to obtain credit in the future."

Preventive Measures

"Keep these numbers in safekeeping or else they can
become tools for someone with criminal intent," says Deirdre Foley of the FDIC's Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs in Washington. You'll also want ready access to these papers, too. That's why a safe deposit box or other restricted area might not be a good storage place for these numbers in case you need immediate access at night or on a weekend or holiday.

If You've Already Been Victimized

If your wallet disappears, there are limits to how much you will have to pay for the charges made by a thief (see the article Know Your (Liability) Limits). In some cases you may owe nothing. But you can help limit your liability and reduce potential losses for merchants and banks (which often get passed on to consumers in the form of higher costs for goods and services) by doing the following.

First, immediately call your credit and charge card companies on their toll-free numbers and explain the situation. You may not have to pay for fraudulent charges if you notify the card issuer quickly (usually within two business days of discovering the loss or theft).

Instruct your card companies to close your accounts. Why close them instead of just asking for fraudulent charges to be removed? For one thing, it'll be difficult for the card issuer to identify and prevent all fraudulent purchases. Also, it's good to have your credit reports show that an account was "closed at customer's request" instead of "lost or stolen." The latter could indicate that you somehow were at fault. And follow up your phone conversations with letters to the card companies - to ensure an adequate "paper trail." It may help to keep a detailed log of phone calls and letters to avoid confusion and to prove that you made the required notifications.

After you've closed your credit card accounts, open new ones with new account numbers and PINs. Replace your old ATM card with a new one, and change your existing PIN to one that cannot be easily guessed by a thief. Your birth date and portions of your Social Security number, telephone number or street address usually are poor choices for PINs.

Canceling your credit card may not be enough to stop crooks from applying for new accounts. That's why you also should contact the three big credit bureaus and have them "flag" your file as one belonging to a possible fraud victim. (See the guide on the previous page.) This warning will caution credit grantors to check with you before approving new loans or cards in your name. Experts say you should take the time to call all three credit bureaus, and perhaps even follow up in writing.

Immediately notify local police where the wallet was lost or stolen. Hugh Eagleton of the FDIC's Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs recommends that you fill out a police report and ask about signing a written affidavit verifying that unauthorized transactions in your name are fraudulent. "These documents will help you when dealing with your bank or credit card company or removing clouds from your credit record," he says. "They give you more credibility when you say that you had no part in any fraud."

Also worth calling: the Social Security Administration (for replacement of Social Security and Medicaid cards), the Department of Motor Vehicles (to get a new driver's license), and your telephone and utility companies (to prevent a con artist from using a utility bill as proof of residence when applying for new credit cards).

Final Thoughts

There's no doubt about it: Our recommendations are time-consuming. But victims of lost wallets and identity theft can tell you that the extra efforts we've described would be far preferable to the many hours you would spend trying to erase a criminal's fingerprints from your credit record. Remember: Your name and good credit history are among your most valuable assets. Protect them.

MY WALLET or PALM PILOT HAS BEEN LOST OR STOLEN: What should I do?

While a lost or stolen wallet/palm pilot 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 and/or auto insurance card
___ Library card
___ Video store card (i.e. Blockbuster)
___ Health insurance/prescription/dental benefit card. Did it have your SSN on it? Yes   No
___ 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, Costco)
___ Professional licenses (doctor, nurse, etc.)
___ Discount cards or passes (movie, amusement parks)

What other information was in your Palm Pilot?
_ Any numbers or codes from the items above
_ Addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and birthdates for friends, family, business associates (some of these could lead to identity theft)
_ Codes, passwords, authorization information
_ Company proprietary information or intellectual property

Tips for Dealing with the Authorities and Financial Institutions

Keep a log of all conversations, including dates, names and phone numbers. Start with the initial police report. Be sure to note time spent and keep receipts for any expenses incurred. In the event the thief is caught and you might be able to request restitution for these expenses.

Confirm conversations in writing. 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. While this may be excessive in some situations, it does provide some peace of mind.

Priority Level One – Do 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. Workplace theft: If your wallet or Palm Pilot 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.

3. Credit Alerts: Contact the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) by telephone. Use the fraud division number rather than the general number. Place a fraud alert with each CRA stating: “On (date) my wallet/palm pilot was stolen/lost. Do not issue credit or allow address or name changes without my express permission. I may be reached at (home number) and (alternate number, such as your cell phone number ).”

While speaking with the CRAs, also order a copy of your credit reports. This allows you to check for any pending applications and verify that all the current information is correct. It becomes an accurate baseline for the fraud alert. For example, imposters might try to change your address. They can do so by applying for credit listing an address different than your current one. Differences in addresses are a warning flag for possible fraudulent activity.

This is also a time to inquire if any new accounts have been opened recently or are pending. If so, get contact information for those creditors and contact them immediately.

In 2 to 3 months you will need to order additional copies of your reports to check for fraudulent accounts. There may be a small charge for these reports if you are not yet a victim of identity theft. Again, keep records of these charges in the event of restitution. ITRC recommends ordering credit reports every 3-4 months the first year. If no criminal activity has occurred by then, you can go back to checking your credit reports on a yearly basis.

Please be aware that fraud alerts are advisory in nature only and that credit issuers are not required to honor them. There are laws pending in several states and at the federal level that would make them mandatory (current as of July 2002). Fraud alerts are usually in place for 60 or 90 days. You will want to extend the time period to seven years; the CRAs require you do so in writing. You can cancel fraud alerts at any time.

4. Driver’s license or vehicle registration papers: If yours was taken, contact the state agency that issues driver’s licenses. Place a stolen/lost card warning on your file. At this time, request for a replacement. If you discover that a thief is using your license, you can always request a license number change at a future date. 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 them of this as well.

5. Green Card or immigration papers: Contact the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), as well as your country’s embassy.

6. Passports: Notify the U.S. State Department. Web: travel.state.gov/passport_services.html In the event the passport was issued by another country, notify the issuing country’s embassy.

7. Credit cards or bills with credit issuers: Contact all credit issuers that issued the stolen/lost card(s). Request replacement cards with new account numbers. Ask the credit grantors to furnish copies of any fraudulent transactions that occurred after the card was stolen/lost. In California and Washington, they are required by law to give you these copies. Monitor your mail for collection notices, missing statements or bills. Check bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity. Report problems immediately to credit grantors.

8. Checking account or saving account numbers, checks, ATM, debit cards used without pin numbers: Contact the bank 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 administrator or fraud investigator. Do not waste time explaining your case to a teller. Many victims report that this was a good relationship to establish, especially when it came to frequent (free!) required notary signatures.

9. Check cashing card: Notify your bank immediately. Cancel the card and request assistance on what to do next.

10. Supermarket club cards, including check cashing: Notify the store, cancel the card and request a new card.

11. 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.

Priority Level Two – do within 48 hours

1. Social Security number involvement: If any card had your SSN on it, you should be concerned about the possibility of identity theft. Follow the advice in Priority One- # 4 above. The thief may only have been after the cash in your wallet, but given the problem of identity theft, it is better to take certain precautions.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

Priority Level Three: 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 that 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.

Preventive Tips:

1. Wallets: On paper, itemize all the items including any cards in your wallet. Some people like to keep photocopies of all the cards they carry. Be sure to photocopy both the front and back since some companies list the number to call if lost/stolen on the back.

2. Palm Pilots: Your Palm Pilot or other handheld PDA devices contain a wealth of information about you and your friends that could increase the risk of identity theft should it get into the hands of thief. ITRC recommends using password protection so that if your PDA is turned on by an unauthorized user, only a log-in screen will appear. You could also 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 on a regular basis. 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 also be tucked under your arm. Make sure that your purse is in your line of vision. Bookbags and other carry-alls that hang from 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.

RESOURCES YOU MIGHT NEED:

Credit reporting bureaus

Equifax: P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348.
Report fraud: Call (800) 525-6285, and write to address above.
Order credit report: (800) 685‑1111. Web: www.equifax.com

Experian (formerly TRW): P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013.
Report fraud: Call (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742), and write to address above.
Fax: (800) 301-7196.
Order credit report: (888) EXPERIAN. Web: www.experian.com

Trans Union: 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

CheckRite: (800) 766‑2748	International Check Services: (800) 526‑5380
Chexsystems: (800) 428-9623	SCAN: (800) 262-7771
CrossCheck: (800) 843-0760	TeleCheck: (800) 710‑9898
Certigy/Equifax: (800) 437‑5120

The information in this publication is the property of the Identity Theft Resource Center and not available for promotional purposes. Copyright 2002. All rights reserved. Any requests to reproduce this material, other than by individual victims for their own use, should be directed to ITRC . Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has permission to include this fact sheet on its web sit. We thank Ronnie Wilson and Tracey Thomas for their insights and advice. Edited: Ronnie Wilson

Be Prepared

Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information.

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed using your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately, I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have first hand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know. As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in).
It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

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