David Chiu

Today Heather and I woke up at 6am to take our corgis Lulu and Simon for a hike at Runyon Canyon. Simon did a pretty good job keeping up with us as we hiked up the hill but after a little while we thought it would probably be better if I carried him. What we quickly discovered is that Simon is the ultimate people magnet. Almost every single person we passed would emit the sound “OH!” as they walked over to pet Simon. “That’s the cutest puppy I have ever seen. How old is he?” was the popular question of the day. Unfortunately this made Lulu quite jealous since she is used to being the center of attention.

After leaving the park we were really hungry so we headed to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants - Poquito Mas. It was actually only 10:30am when we arrived but luckily they were open. Heather had a chicken burrito and I had the chef special - a roasted pasilla pepper with cheese on chicken with mango salsa. MMMMMmmmmm!!

(now the bad part…)

On our way home we decided to stop by Petco to get a few pet supplies. After buying what we needed we walked to the car and proceeded to put Lulu and Simon in the backseat. STUPIDLY, I placed my wallet ON TOP of the car. I remember thinking to myself, “I shouldn’t put my wallet here, but I will remember to get it.”‘

Well I didn’t.

I didn’t realize my wallet was missing until after we arrived at home and were taking our things into the house. When I started to look for my wallet I got a flashback of me, placing my wallet on top of the car. I quickly told Heather and jumped back in the car and headed back to Petco. On the way I scanned the road for my wallet. There was a very slight possibility that maybe my wallet didn’t fall off the car until a little while after we were driving. NOTHING. Then I arrived at Petco and searched the parking lot. NOTHING. Then I went inside the store and asked the cashiers. NOTHING. That’s when I started to panic.

I jumped back in my car and rushed home. I started to think of everything I needed to do to protect myself. Then I started to think of the horrible possibility that some kid or some bad person would find my wallet and think they had struck gold. My wallet had all the usual things - credit cards, drivers license, blockbuster card, insurance cards, and my SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

DAMN!

How stupid am I to have my social security card in my wallet. Now anybody could use my wallet and all it’s info to wreak havoc on my life by committing identity fraud. Or maybe they would just max out all my credit cards. Now I was starting to feel sick.

When I got home Heather already had ideas of what I should do: cancel all my credit cards and call the credit bureaus. So I did. Then I started searching google for other suggestions. In my search I found this list:

1. File a report with the police immediately. Get a copy in case your bank, Credit Card Company or insurance company needs proof of the crime.

2. Cancel each credit and charge card. Get new cards with new account numbers.

Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies:

Equifax (800) 525-6285
www.equifax.com

Experian (888) 397-3742
www.experian.com

Trans Union (800) 680-7289
www.transunion.com

3. Ask them to put a “fraud alert” on your account and add a “victim’s statement” to your file requesting that creditors contact you before opening new accounts in your name.

4. Ask the credit bureaus for copies of your credit reports. Review your reports carefully to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your mane or unauthorized changes make to your existing accounts. In a few months, order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.

5. Report the loss to your bank if your wallet or purse contained bank account information, including account numbers, ATM cards or checks. Cancel checking and savings accounts and open new ones. Stop payments on outstanding checks.

6. Get a new ATM card, account number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or password.

7. Contact the Social Security Administration (fraud line): (800) 269-0271

8. Report your missing driver’s license to the department of motor vehicles. If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver’s license number, ask to substitute another number.

9. Change the locks on your home and car if your keys were taken. Don’t give an identity thief access to even more personal property and information.

Well it started out as a good day…