*cry* lost identity

Factual Questions
1

My wallet is gone. That’s the start of this. I was at a friend’s house playing a game, and we ordered food. The last time I saw my wallet was when I got change for the food from the friend. I put the wallet down, probably in my backpack, though I didn’t think much of it at the time. I left said house, and when I got to the subway station I found that my wallet was gone. One of the pockets in my backpack was open, quite possibly the one the wallet was in. It was a busy street, but I didn’t see the wallet on the street (and I don’t want to immediately assume stolen). However, I went back to the friend’s house and emptied my backpack completely. No wallet. We checked under the bed, all over the floor, in boxes, near books, everywhere we could think of. No wallet. I even called the person who had been sitting next to me (whom I trust, he didn’t take it (remember my crush?)). No wallet.

So here’s the question.

I’m not too worried about the 80-100 bucks that was in my wallet (yes there’s a reason I was carrying that much) - it’s a lot, but money is always replaceable. I’m not really worried about the 20-trip path card I just bought this afternoon, or the (something like) 10 tokens I had in one of the pockets of it. What I am worried about is my identity.

My social security card, marriage certificate, health cards, credit cards, even the health and ss cards for my CHILDREN, were in there. Whoever has my wallet has ID cards from two different states (NJ and Penn), my social security number, my bank card, my credit cards, and (on my marriage certificate I think) my mother’s maiden name.

Aside from reporting it stolen to cc and bank etc (and police in … what’s the district for Chinatown in NYC?), what can I do to keep people from stealing my identity if they have all this?

Yes, I know I’m totally paranoid, and it’s not likely to happen (esp given how much debt I’m in - who’d wanna be me?), but still there’s that nagging little voice in my head that has me completely frantic about this.

I hate losing my wallet. cry it’s going to take a month of days off to get everything back (well, ok, an exaggeration, but the DMV takes all day, as does SS office, as does having to get MO’s for b. cert’s since gov’t offices don’t take checks, etc etc etc).

-Elthia

2

You had the original copy of your marriage certificate and SS certificate in your wallet?

3

This happened to me a few years ago…I was at a Timberwolves game and I had my wallet in my coat pocket (I hate carrying a purse) and it slipped out.

I didn’t have much cash, but everything else: DL, credit cards, SS card was in there.

I cancelled my CC’s and informed my bank. I got replacement cards and the day I was going in to get a replacement driver’s license I stopped to get my mail and there was a manila envelope in my mailbox with everything that had been in my wallet enclosed. All I was missing was the twenty bucks and the wallet itself. I couldn’t read the return address on the envelope, it was scribbled, so I couldn’t thank the nice person who did it.

I agree, it sucks. I only carry what I need now in my wallet.

Good luck!

Bo

4

I’m supposed to be going to get a new ID card and a passport within the next week, so I stuffed the things in my wallet so as not to forget them :frowning:

Figures. I should have just tied a string around my finger or some such idiocy. grin

-Elthia

5

Elthia, I am sorry to hear this. I do hope the wallet shows up.

6 
All of these are easily replaced. The fear of theft of identity isn't so easily dealt with. You cannot change who you are, in terms of the numbers gov't and society has assigned to you. HOWEVER- I DID have my son's Soc Sec # changed a few years ago, the Gummint agency who issues such things was glad to do so. But then, he was a baby and didn't have a long paper/binary trail with the old number firmly established.
My raging paranois says this: With that information, the right evil-minded person can wreck your life. Shifting the soc sec and credit card, and other stuff will help. I don't know how thoroughly you want to take it. If nothing else, close EVERY charge account you have, and have them re-issue new numbers to you. You can at least protect those existing accounts.

And, have a nice day. I lost mine on the PA Turnpike, on the way to Pittsburgh once. Never got it back, had to re-do a lot of stuff. <sigh> I feel your pain.

If you want to kiss the sky, you’d better learn how to kneel.

7

Elthia - You need to do ALL of the following ASAP to protect yourself, as much as possible, from identity theft:

  1. Get a police report. Keep a copy of the report with you - at all times - for the next 5 years. It’s sad, but necessary. If someone swipes your identity and starts writing bad checks and running up bad debt in your name, the creditors WILL swear out warrents for your arrest. Having the police report handy may keep you from an unwanted trip “downtown”. There is often a long delay between the time a criminal gets your information and the time they decide to use it.

  2. Close all of your credit card and bank accounts and start over with new accounts. Do NOT settle for stopping payment on any checks which might have been lost/stolen. Make sure the account records indicate “clost due to lost/stolen checks/card.” This will help protect you in case someone decides to try to use your current accounts.

  3. Contact ALL 3 major credit bureaus (TRW, Experian, and Trans Union). Have each put a “fraud alert” on your account due to lost/stolen ID. This should cause lenders/bankers and others who rely on credit reports to be extra careful to establish your identity before doing business with you.

Unfortunately, if someone does decide to assume your identity, it can cause you grief for years to come - even if you follow all of the steps I outlined above. I hope everyhing works out alright.

After all, what is your hosts’ purpose in having a party? Surely not for you to enjoy yourself; if that were their sole purpose, they’d have simply sent champagne and women over to your place by taxi. – P. J. O’Rourke

8

Cartooniverse,

How do you go about changing your SS#? If I felt that my SS# had been “compromised,” is it just a matter of writing a letter, or would I have to go to city hall or something? Where could I find information about this? I ask because the Canadian Mafia is after me (again).

Hey, if it ain’t broke, give ME a shot at it.

9

I called the Social Security office and tried to get not only mine but also two of my childrens numbers changed. Mine because I had lost all of my ID while in Desert Storm and the kids because they were born in Germany and my ex-wife threw away all of the birth certificates and whatnot when she left. I was told no way. Once you had a number it would stay the same so as to preclude a person from trying to get an alternate identity or something. Not being a spy, I decided to just let it go at that.

10

I had my wallet picked a long time ago. At the time, in NYC, you would get a “complaint number” when you reported it to the police. Make sure you keep a copy of that number. About six years after the wallet was stolen, I got a very interesting call from some moron in Vermont who wanted me to pay a bill for a hotel room. Naturally, I had never been there. Someone had used my drivers license as ID - even though it had expired three years before! What saved me from even endless annoyance was the complaint number from way back when. They still wanted me to pay, though, and I had to go through all sorts of grief will bill collectors and phony process servers. Never carry anything beyond what you need on a daily basis with you.

what?