Worried about Misplacing/Losing your Wallet?
Before You Panic, Protect Yourself

These days, thieves are after more than your cash, they want everything from you and it takes no time to get it! There’s always a criminal out there, skilled and capable of ripping off your social security number and credit information.

In a matter of minutes after securing your information, someone can easily purchase or order expensive merchandise, sign up for an expensive monthly cell phone package, apply for credit cards, have a credit line approved to buy airline tickets, computers, furniture, high priced merchandise, receive a PIN number from DMV to change your driving record information online and more.

FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE …
Here’s how to protect yourself before your wallet is missing:
· Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine
· Copy both sides of each license, credit card, information card, etc.
· In the event that your wallet is lost or stolen, you’ll know exactly what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call to cancel
· Don’t forget to keep the photocopies in a safe place!

Should you Discover Your Purse or Wallet Missing
· Cancel your credit cards immediately
· Keep the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call
· Keep backup information and phone numbers where you can easily find them
· File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your wallet was stolen or misplaced (A police report proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation if there ever is a need for one).
· Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security numbers (Alerting the credit bureaus will help prevent someone from filing a credit application)
· After the credit bureau issues a fraud alert any company who checks your credit will have to contact you by phone to authorize any new credit applications

Don’t hesitate to protect yourself. It’s not uncommon for thousands of dollars of damage to be done in a matter of minutes!

Keep These Numbers Handy:

Equifax: www.equifax.com or 800-685-1111
Experian (formerly TRW): www.experian.com or 888-397-3742
Trans Union: www.tuc.com or 800-916-8800
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Coastal Federal Credit Union Risk Management Department
John Bono: (919) 420-8102 or 1-800-868-4262, ext. 8201
Wayne Williams: (919) 420-8282 or 1-800-868-4262, ext. 8282

It always pays to be proactive. Make it a habit to check your credit report once a year to make sure that everything in your report is precise and accurate.