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AARP suggests taking the following steps if you lose your wallet:
• cancel or turn off all debit and credit cards, or report them as lost or stolen immediately so that you can avoid unauthorized charges;
• file a fraud alert, since criminals with your driver's license in hand could do a lot of damage (you can request that the credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion and Equifax – add the alert to your file, notifying creditors, lendors and anyone viewing your credit report that someone may be trying to apply for credit in your name;
• call your local police precinct to get a police report on record if you believe your wallet or personal information have been stolen, even though the police may not be able to recover them.
Then, monitor your bank account and credit reports for any unusual activity. If you see anything suspicious, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the issue.
For help from AARP fighting fraud, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
