Stolen wallet - tips on how to minimize the damage

Hi all!
I am just back from holidays in Greece and I was unlucky enough to be on a wrong place in a wrong time to get my wallet stolen
Of course, I immediately cancelled all my bank cards and went to police to report it.

And then l spent last two days since I am back in Munich trying to reactivate the cards, try to get the replacement drivers license and Krankenversicherung, etc.

Now when these 'practical' things are done - I am starting to become paranoid about identity theft: in my wallet were my business cards with contact details and the photocopy of my passport with my signature and date of birth, a piece of paper where I wrote down my all bank account numbers (just numbers, no pins or usernames - I am silly enough to get my wallet stolen but not completely stupid and also some other private data.

So perhaps some of you would have some advice for me - is there anything else that could be done to prevent these bastards to make more damage?
Did any of yis had similar (unfortunate) experience? If yes, how did you deal with it? Did you change your bank accounts or simply got replacement cards and get on with your life? Obviously, I cannot change other things (address, job, etc) but I am wondering is there anything else that can help with minimizing the damage?

I really could appreciate all your tips - I believe I am experiencing the delayed shock now

Many thanks,
Ema

You have my sympathies Ema. Yes - cash stolen is one thing but the hassle of replacing all these documents is a nightmare. People in the UK are paranoid about identity theft and a lot of people I know there have shredders in their homes and shred everything they can as it is believed that the identity thieves go through the garbage. Out of curiosity where did you have it stolen.

Identity theft is not that big of an issue in Germany from what I know. I think you've already done what is necessary. I guess you could close your bank account and open a new one just to be sure, but I do not think it is necessary. Watch the in and out flow of money on your bank accounts closely now, to make sure there are no fraudulent charges (like someone using your bank account details to order something from Amazon). If there are any, report them to your bank. Since you never approved those charges you will be refunded.

I had a similar experience two years ago. I was in Philadelphia changing apartments. I had one of those "laptop backpack" bags that I put all of my electronics and essentials in: iPod, PDA, clip-on photo ID from work (it had my photo and said "Pennsylvania Rail Transit Safety Review Program" with the PennDOT logo), checkbook, laptop, some credit cards, and other personal information. I put it in the cab of the moving truck to keep it safe, but my friend who was helping me move didn't lock the cab when we took the first load of stuff up. As soon as we got in the elevator I asked him whether he locked it and then went downstairs as soon as possible. It was already long gone. A construction worker nearby told me he saw someone take it (or he took and told me that to throw me off the scent) and I went running in the direction he told me, and someone on the next corner told me they saw someone running with a black bag into the subway. It was long gone.

I cancelled the necessary stuff and thanked goodness that my computer was password protected and though that could easily be worked around, it was likely sold on the street by a crackhead to another crackhead who probably just wiped the hard drive. The biggest problem was the checkbook--after going back and forth with it in my head I ultimately got my bank to issue me a new account and transfer all the money. It wasn't worth the headache.

All the info on the PDA was up for grabs but there wasn't anything too sensitive, and I never heard of anyone using my work ID to go poking around the Philly subway system. Obviously with the electronics it was a stinging financial loss (about $2,000), but no one ultimately stole my identity.

I would consider changing your bank accounts, though, if you think that might be a problem.

And I realise you might feel a little bit "violated"--I certainly did. The best you can do is cross your fingers, hope nothing comes of it and let yourself calm down over time.

Good luck with it all!

Yes, please tell us what happened because I'm on a plane next Wednesday to Greece myself. I am not planning to bring my whole wallet with me (for exactly this reason) and plan to keep everything locked in the hotel safe while I'm there.

Where were you when it happened?

And sorry for the loss. I've had my entire purse stolen twice and my car twice too. But, I felt a lot more violated and inconvenienced when my purses were stolen than my cars (even though I needed my car for getting around in the U.S.)

I wouldn't be quite so positive about bank account security as Mariposa. In my limited experience you're not covered as well against fraud as in the U.S. A coworker of mine went to Venezuela in January and didn't have anything stolen (though at one point on the trip some creep in Caracas tried to do a snatch and grab bud didn't succeed) but he recently noticed that someone apparently "scanned" his card while there and withdrew €1000 in Venezuela. He called the bank and they put a hold on future transactions and told him to go to the police, where he filed a report. Whereas in my experience in the U.S. he would get all the money back, in this case it's not yet clear that such will be the case.

Well, since the card was already canceled & the theft reported to the police how can someone still use it to withdraw money at an ATM?
(Your friend's situation was a bit different, as the card was never canceled.)

The only way to still use it would be to use it online, and there you are covered against fraud.

If I am not very mistaken they are required by law to book it back. Unless you failed to notify them of a stolen card which is not the case here. So insist on it! From my experience the law in Germany protects you very well against these things. It is generally in favor of the consumer unless you did something wrong. But the banks don't want you to know that.

In general: If anyone takes money off your account and fakes your signature or uses a card (PIN, TAN) that has been reported stolen its the banks problem.

If your paranoid about your Passport data being used for Ident. theft or to make forged PP's, then you need to report
this to the US Consulate and get your old passport/passport #'s canceled and flagged as stolen. They should also be able
to get you a new PP (Different #) cheap or maybe even free.. (But don't hold your breath).

Thanks everybody for prompt responses! I guess my nerves are now playing a horrible tricks with me - just this is the first time (and I pray to God the last time) my wallet was stolen.

Here is the sad story: I was warned by a friend of mine that there are a lot of theft going on in Athens (I went there for his wedding).
So I was 'extra' careful' - got a small lady bag with a long handle (so that I can put it diagonally over my head and keep it always in front of me).
I had kept my hand *always* on top of it (most photos I have from Greece will prove this Everything was fine and I visited many places and was quite happy about my Greek experience. Then I went to Syntagma square (in front of Parliament buildings) - it was about 20.55. And then I made a mistake. I saw that it is only about 5mins until change of guards and I decided to go and see it once more (was not too happy about the pictures I made earlier that day).
So I was there, taking few photos (lasted only 1-2 minutes) - this was the only time during the day I have taken my hand off the bloody bag!
When it was all done started to make my way to metro. And then I noticed that my bag is too light (I mean beside mobile and wallet there was nothing else in it!)
My bag was closed as usual but I opened it and the wallet was gone So the buggers have opened the bag, grab the wallet and closed it! Professionals, no doubt about it!

The rest is just a whirl of trying to find the police station to report the theft, going back to hotel and explaining that my room card was also in the wallet, etc…
Btw. In the police station they tried to convince me to say that the wallet was lost (not stolen!) so that they can issue me a certificate right away and case closed.
I refused to say that (the bloody thing was stolen not lost - grrr... so they told me to come in about a week to pick up the paper. They will not post it to you!
Somehow I manage to name my friends father as a person who will come to pick it up - so I hope in a few weeks I will have the certificate in my hands.
And I was told I was lucky - if they had stolen my passport - I would have to wait for three months! What the hell would I do in Greece for three months without passport? As I am a non-EU citizen, it is not that easy to move around WITH the passport and all visas in order. I hate to think what would I be facing without the passport. Ah well …

@kitkat64: yes, definitely do not bring nothing unnecessary with you while out and about - keep valuables in a hotel safe! Few euros and photocopy of your passport should do the trick when strolling around. I normally do that when I am traveling but this time the circumstances were not your usual traveling-for-fun and I got busted

Again thanks a lot for sharing your unfortunate experiences and tips with me.
Ema

A wee thing. Or perhaps not a wee thing.

Lets say you got your wallet stolen which had your driving licence, bank cards, other IDs. Obv cancelling bank stuff is easy. I'm a bit concerned about identity theft though. It seems there are a number of horror stories out there.

Tips for protecting yourself (once its all gone..)?

If I could catch the little shit...

Topics merged by admin

I had my wallet nicked in Madrid, the bastard slit my trouser pocket with a cut throat razor took the wallet and then tossed my wallet to his mate who legged it. I was not going to argue with some twat with a cut throat razor, it was only money and a few phone calls/faxes to various credit card companies

Yeah, I've heard pickpocketing is a big problem here (in Spain), luckily nothing has happened to me so far and I try not to have anything too valuable on me unless I really need to (like ATM/ credit cards, ID etc.). And I'd also never carry my wallet in a pocket of my pants or an open purse for that matter. The problem is, even when I will actually act like a local here after living here for a for months (i.e. know where I am going, not look insecure) I will always be the pale blonde who cannot possibly be Spanish...

Schotte, honestly, I am not sure if identity theft is that much of an issue here as compared to the US, not sure what you could do to prevent anything there, just report everything as stolen, and then well, if something does happen, you can go from there.

Sorry that happened, Schotte. I might well be wondering the same thing in your position. No useful tips, sadly, but hope the whole thing doesn't prove too much hassle and nothing bad comes of it.

You need to be sure to report everything as stolen, even things like membership cards etc that you might not be bothering to replace...