A lost or stolen wallet, and who to contact

A lost wallet can mean lost cards and a lost ID at the same time. Start with the cards, then watch the statements, protect your credit and replace the ID.

The cards

• Report each card to its bank or credit unionReport the loss or theft to the bank or credit union that issued the card as soon as possible. Call, or use the issuer's mobile app.
• Keep notes of each callWrite down the date and time of each report and who you spoke with.

The statements

• Check every account statementKeep checking them for the next few months.
• Look closest at debit and ATM activityThose transactions take money straight out of your account.
• Match credit card charges to receipts

Your credit

• A fraud alertIt tells businesses to check with you before opening a new credit account in your name. To place a free one-year alert, contact one of the three bureaus.
• A credit freezeWith a freeze in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name, and it's free. Contact all three bureaus to place one.
• Signs someone is using your informationLook for charges you didn't make, accounts you don't recognize, a bill that stops coming and withdrawals you didn't make. If you see one, IdentityTheft.gov builds a free personal recovery plan.

Your ID and other cards

• The driver's licenseYour state's motor vehicle agency replaces it. Its site lists what to bring.
• The health insurance cardCall the number on the insurer's website, or on a statement, and ask for a new card.
• Store and loyalty cards with a balanceCall each one about the balance.

Before it happens

Save your bank's customer service numbers in your phone's contacts, and keep them current. Don't give an account number over the phone unless you placed the call.

Carry only the cards you'll need, and never carry your ATM or debit card PIN in your wallet. Never write a PIN on the card itself, or on any paper you could lose. Turn on multi-factor authentication for the accounts that offer it, so a stolen password alone can't open them.

Shred old cards through the account number, the magnetic strip and the security code. Check whether your homeowners or renters insurance covers card theft. Be skeptical of anyone selling "credit card loss protection". Legitimate financial companies don't sell it that way. A list of the cards and IDs you carry, with each issuer's name and no card numbers, shows what to report when the wallet is gone. How to freeze your credit, and the signs of identity theft goes through the freeze at each bureau.