When Someone Returns Your Lost Wallet!

You get restless when you find that your wallet is missing. When someone returns it with all contents intact, it will give you a great relief. However, things are not that simple these days. A returned wallet may temporarily console you with a feeling that you have not lost anything, but much bigger losses may be forthcoming in the form of identity theft!
This is a new trick used by identity thieves. They may steal your wallet, take out essential numbers and other personal information from it and return it to you as an honest person. You are happy for getting it intact. However it may be an indication of horrible danger ahead. Many details like your social security number, your credit card numbers and sometimes even pin codes (if you write them on a piece of paper for easy use and keep in wallet) will be taken out in no time. The fraud will move ahead without slightest doubt to you.

Here are a few steps if your wallet is stolen (and even returned to you sometimes later)

1. File a police complaint - You should file a police complaint quickly once you find that your wallet is lost. While making such complaint, you should ask the name of the officer who is speaking to you. If your wallet is returned, you can speak to this officer once again informing about the return of the wallet. You can also tell that office your suspicion about possibility of identity theft. In case the local police station is not prepared to listen to you about identity theft, you should contact the FBI to inform them about your suspicion.

2. Promptly contact your bank as well as your credit card issuer - Once you realize that your wallet is accessed by someone for a short time, you should report this fact to your bank as well as to your credit card issuer quickly so that they will monitor your account closely to find out possibilities of fraud. You should tell the bank and the card issuer that you might be a victim of identity theft. It is better to close existing accounts and open new accounts to wipe out all the clues.
You can also check your bank account and credit card account on-line frequently to locate any unauthorized transaction.

3. You should contact any one of the three credit bureaus to report such incidence. You can also request the bureau to put a fraud alert on your account so that no new account will be opened anywhere in your name. If your report to one credit bureau, they will inform to the other two.

4. You should go to the department of motor vehicles located near your place and inform them that your wallet was stolen and as a consequence your license details may be used for fraudulent purposes. You should preferably write a letter so that you have a proof with you. You may also consider requesting another driver's license with a new number.

5. After a couple of months, you should request a copy of your credit report so that you can find out whether there is anything suspicious in it.
You may feel that some of these actions are extreme for losing your wallet temporarily, but remember, even if your wallet is returned intact, important information might have been taken out by the identity thieves. You cannot be too careful about safety of your identity.