What should I do if my purse was stolen?
Henry Morales
Published Apr 12, 2026
Lost or Stolen Wallet? Here’s What to Do
- Call Your Bank to Report Your Debit Card as Stolen.
- Call Your Credit Card Issuers to Report Your Cards as Stolen.
- File a Police Report.
- Make a List of Everything That Was in Your Wallet.
- Initiate a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report.
- Replace Your Driver’s License.
How do I report my purse stolen?
Call the police If you suspect your wallet was stolen, call the cops. Even though the police might not be able to track down your wallet, putting in a report will cover you in other ways. If a thief does try committing identity fraud, you’ll have to prove that you aren’t responsible for the costs.
Should I keep my Social Security card in my purse?
Don’t Carry Your Social Security Card in Your Wallet Losing your Social Security number is a sure ticket to identity theft. Once stolen, rogue identity thieves could use that number to get loans in your name or obtain credit cards. Even if there’s an additional fee, it’s worth it to protect your identity.
What do you do if your Social Security card is lost or stolen?
If your Social Security card or number (SSN) is lost or stolen, you should immediately contact your local police department and the Social Security Administration (call toll-free 1-800-772-1213) to let them know about the incident.
What should you not carry in your wallet?
To safeguard your finances while you’re on the go, consider these seven things you should never carry in your wallet:
- Social Security number.
- Checks.
- Numerous credit cards.
- Multiple gift cards.
- Password cheat sheets.
- Excess cash.
- Spare keys.
How much cash should you carry in your wallet?
“We would recommend between $100 to $300 of cash in your wallet, but also having a reserve of $1,000 or so in a safe at home,” Anderson says. Depending on your spending habits, a couple hundred dollars may be more than enough for your daily expenses or not enough.
How often are purse stolen?
Though no official surveys have been done on this topic, it is believed that around 1,000 purses and wallets are stolen every two minutes in the U.S. If this estimate is accurate, this means just under 300,000 wallets are stolen every year in the U.S. alone.
Do people still steal purses?
Survey Found 2/3 People Have Lost Money Holder Between wallets, purses, and money clips, thieves have a lot of options when it comes to theft. A survey of 509 people ran by MoneyTips in 2018 found that 2/3 people have had their money holder stolen.
What to do if your Social Security card is lost or stolen?
“Because of the danger of identity theft if your Social Security card is lost, you should put a credit freeze on your credit reports at each of the three major credit reporting agencies in order to prevent someone from leveraging the Social Security number into accessing your credit or establishing accounts in your name,” he says.
What to do if your wallet or purse is stolen or lost?
As soon as you realize your wallet or purse is gone — whether it’s lost or stolen — you can immediately take some steps to greatly reduce the chance identity theft and unauthorized charges to your accounts. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, follow these steps to protect yourself and your accounts.
What happens if someone steals your Social Security number?
Someone illegally using your Social Security number and assuming your identity can cause a lot of problems. Your number is confidential The Social Security Administration protects your Social Security number and keeps your records confidential. We don’t give your number to anyone, except when authorized by law.
Can a stolen credit card be used for identity theft?
Credit card fraud is a common form of identity theft, and stolen credit cards are often used quickly. 5 Most credit card companies are wise to this, so they watch for unusual purchases and will alert you if necessary. Furthermore, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) protects you from being held liable for fraudulent activity. 6
