Worry about things missing from wallet?

October 29, 2005 3:28 PM

LostWalletFilter: I was at a bar last night and left my wallet on a table in a fit of brilliance. I went back to the bar this morning and got it back, but a few things are missing. Should I worry or take any preventative action?

I realize I'm lucky to have gotten the wallet back at all. I'm not the smartest guy after a few drinks.

Left in the wallet: my major credit cards, ATM cards, old student ID, a few membership cards to various organizations.

Missing from the wallet: my driver license, my health insurance card, a prepaid calling card, a few of my business cards and $25. Probably some other cards I never use as well... holding it in my hand the wallet seems lighter than usual.

I'm not planning on contacting any credit card companies or banks since none of my financial cards were taken. I'll go to the DMV and get a new license sometime this week, and also get a new health insurance card from work.

I'm curious though... is there any risk with someone running around with my license and business cards and health insurance card and maybe something else that was in my wallet that I forgot about (I clean out my wallet about once a year and there's always something in there that I didn't remember putting in there).

There was a period of time when I kept my social security card in the wallet, and when a friend saw it he told me to keep it somewhere safe so that having my wallet stolen wouldn't instantly make me a candidate for identity theft. I'm very glad I took that advice.

posted by adamk to grab bag (13 comments total)

Just because your credit cards weren't taken doesn't mean someone didn't write the acct. numbers down. I'd call your CC companies just to be on the safe side.
posted by scody at 3:31 PM on October 29, 2005

Get new credit cards(with different account numbers) to be sure.
They've got your CC number (plus the 3 digit on the back) and they know your address.
That's good enough for an online shopping spree.

Also, does your health insurance card have a SSN on it?
Be on the lookout for "Identity theft"(man, I hate that phrase).
They've got just about everything they need to start being you.
posted by madajb at 3:32 PM on October 29, 2005

You might still want to alert the credit bureaus to a fraud alert. That way, if anyone tries to take out credit in your name, you'll have some safeguards. You should also alert your health insurance provider -- if someone racks up health insurance credits in your name, this may affect your lifetime or current benefits. Since the thief now has your address, you should also keep an eye on your mailbox. If they lift mail (credit card statements or whatever), you're at risk. They may have already written down your credit card numbers. They have your work information, so that could be used in credit, employment and identity fraud. You may want to monitor your social security statements, too.

I wouldn't worry about the calling card, unless there's a way to get personal information from it. But they already have that.

It's possible that someone was being a jerk and just scooped some of your cards for the heck of it. But I wouldn't be so sure.
posted by acoutu at 3:34 PM on October 29, 2005

Everything in that wallet that contains or did contain any personal info, assume all of that is stolen. Take appropriate precautions. Any current memberships, renew the card and have the old one cancelled. Any old memberships you don't use, cancel completely and notify the organization about the theft.

Generally, your safest path is to assume that everything in your wallet was copied down by someone malicious. Take safeguards against all of this, and yes, replace ALL of those credit cards.

Also, get a credit report and see to it that no new cards are opened in your name. You'd be amazed at how easy this can be, and it does happen often.

Be as thorough as you possibly can. Notify your local police department regarding the theft as well.

The only thing in your wallet you mentioned that needs no precaution or recourse would be the money. It's gone, but you know it and you know it's just tough luck at this point.

I can't stress enough the need to get in contact with every credit card company you deal with, get a credit report, and see to it that no new cards can be opened in your name. That, and reporting your driver's license theft to the police are the most vital things, as they can not only steal money from you, but utterly ruin your credit within a matter of days.

Sorry to hear that this happened, and I know you don't want to be inconvenienced, but this is one thing you can't afford to blow off. Your Social Security card being stolen wouldn't matter, anyone with your license and a bit of malice can find that number.

Good luck man, hope nothing more comes of this.
posted by Saydur at 4:35 PM on October 29, 2005

What Saydur said doubled - and the sooner the better. I have been bitten in the pocketbook by not reporting cards gone early enough.
posted by Sparx at 4:57 PM on October 29, 2005

You have a duty to call the Police and report what is missing. You may not need your cards back, or get them, but it is worth registering yourself as someone who has had their identity compromised.
posted by fire&wings at 5:05 PM on October 29, 2005

If I found someone's wallet and wanted to use the credit cards in it -- not that I'd do such a thing, but if I did -- then leaving the credit cards in the wallet after copying down the number sounds like it would be a great way to try to get him to not cancel the cards so I could use them.

Doubly so if I could give him a bunch of other inconvenient things to do, like replacing a bunch of other documents.
posted by mendel at 6:06 PM on October 29, 2005

As has been said, you should place "fraud alerts" with the three major credit bureaus.

Call and follow up with letters:

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
800-525-6285

Experian
P.O. Box 9530
Allen TX 75013
888-397-3742

Trans Union
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634
800-680-7289

The old adage applies: Better to be safe than sorry.
posted by ericb at 6:25 PM on October 29, 2005

Are you kidding? Cancel everything as if you lost the entire wallet.
posted by about_time at 8:04 PM on October 29, 2005

In the future, maybe it would be a good thing for you to either drink less, or not bring your entire wallet into places where you drink. As for keeping your SS card in a safe place, you don't need the damn thing in the first place, if you know the number. I haven't had a card for thirty years, and have never been asked for it. It's not an ID, it's just a convenient place for other people to find your SSAN.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:10 AM on October 30, 2005

In the future, maybe it would be a good thing for you to either drink less, or not bring your entire wallet into places where you drink.

Judging from my experience with bar-hopping, "drink less" is probably an unrealistic suggestion. Fortunately, in those days I was too poor to have credit cards, but I left cash and other stuff in more than one gin joint. My condolences, and I agree about leaving the identity-theft fodder behind when you go out to get potted.
posted by languagehat at 6:35 AM on October 30, 2005

As for keeping your SS card in a safe place, you don't need the damn thing in the first place, if you know the number. - Kirth Gerson

No, you wouldn't need it often, but don't assume you won't need it ever. I had been able to go on just remembering the number for years, and this was fine for tax returns, health insurance, etc. Then when I started a new job in local government, they insisted upon seeing the actual card. If I didn't procude it within X number of days, I would have been suspended until it was produced. YMMV.
posted by raedyn at 7:43 AM on October 31, 2005

I used to have a problem loosing my wallet when drunk.

However I now have my wallet on a chain (originaly to deter pickpockets whilst traveling in asia) and Ive not lost it since!

I do however look like a skater. Which Im not.
posted by gergtreble at 7:39 PM on October 31, 2005