Lost my purse .. now what ?

[Scallywag]

What immediate steps should it take to protect myself from identity theft ? Just lost my purse containing my license, credit and ATM cards, FSA card, health insurance card and auto insurance cards. Help !!

[disneysteve]

Notify your bank and credit card companies immediately. Then move on to the other stuff which isn’t as important.

[msomnipotent]

You will need to get a police report, too.

[TexasHusker]

Good thing you found savingadvice.com when you did!

[disneysteve]

If you’re concerned you can also freeze your credit.

[~bs]

no offense, but for an emergency, id ask google before i asked savingadvice. lol

[TexasHusker]

If you’re concerned you can also freeze your credit.

winter is a great time of year to do that.

[Scallywag]

Thank ye all kindly !!

I did call my bank, closed out my cards etc but was worried if that's all it takes ? I had a date with the DMV yesterday ... Ugh !

Regarding credit freeze - when I called the cops this morning they said they wouldn't give me a police report until I had actually been stolen from so no can freeze.

Life lesson - don't carry your entire life around in your purse. #stupidtax

[disneysteve]

Regarding credit freeze - when I called the cops this morning they said they wouldn't give me a police report until I had actually been stolen from so no can freeze.

You don't need a police report to do a credit freeze. You can freeze your credit any time you'd like. And I think I read that they no longer charge you to do so.

It makes sense that you can't get a police report because no crime has occurred.

[Thrif-t]

Here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/article...it-freeze-faqs

I can't remember how long ago I did a freeze? But in this day and age with all the hackers stealing info, purse stolen or not, I'd freeze my credit! Plus it's free now to freeze and unfreeze, all it costs is your time, but for that you'll get peace of mind :-).

[Scallywag]

Here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/article...it-freeze-faqs

I can't remember how long ago I did a freeze? But in this day and age with all the hackers stealing info, purse stolen or not, I'd freeze my credit! Plus it's free now to freeze and unfreeze, all it costs is your time, but for that you'll get peace of mind :-).

Ahhh ! Thank ye !

[msomnipotent]

Thank ye all kindly !!

I did call my bank, closed out my cards etc but was worried if that's all it takes ? I had a date with the DMV yesterday ... Ugh !

Regarding credit freeze - when I called the cops this morning they said they wouldn't give me a police report until I had actually been stolen from so no can freeze.

Life lesson - don't carry your entire life around in your purse. #stupidtax

Did you just misplace your purse, (like you can't remember if you left it in your car or your house or you friend's house) or did you lose it at a store and it wasn't returned to you (like you accidentally left it in a dressing room and it wasn't there when you came back)? If you just can't remember what you did with it, I probably wouldn't do anything more than lock my credit cards until I found my purse. If you lost it in a store or similar, and it wasn't turned in, it was stolen. My sister lost her purse in a store last year and was told to get a police report. She didn't have any problem getting one. But maybe it is region specific.

[Scallywag]

The last time I used the purse was at the grocer's. I seem to remember bringing it into the home, along with the groceries, and keeping it in the usual place i do (on the mantle over my fire place) but it just disappeared. I now think I must have just imagined bringing it in and quite likely left it at the grocer's, but when I called they said they had not seen it. Shopping is usually stressful for me so I am just going to assume that i lost it and act accordingly rather than hope it's just been misplaced (which would be better).

[alliecat79]

I had my purse stolen from my car one time (yes, stupid, but I was dropping my son off at a friend's and was doing a quick "what time to pick him up?" In the city, those crimes happen in the blink of an eye). Within the minutes it took me to start calling my bank (friend's mom let me use her home phone), they had purchased $350 worth of gift cards from a local gas station. I shut all the cards down so they really only got away with the $350. The bank covers theft with their insurance. It was a nuisance more than anything. Also had my phone in the purse. When I shut down the phone with my temporary number, the kid called my phone and said he had bought it from someone and would I purchase it back for $250. The police said leave it be, it's probably the thief who will rob you a SECOND time. Needless to say, the purse stays on me like glue.