Don't Assume
If you can't find your wallet, don't assume, just because things do have a way of getting misplaced, that your wallet is simply misplaced.
And when you check your bank account and don't see anything unusual, don't assume that to be confirmation that your wallet is simply misplaced.
And when you check your bank account and don't see anything unusual, don't assume that to be confirmation that your wallet is simply misplaced.
About a week ago Tim noticed that his wallet was missing. Things do have a way of walking off around here. Remember the $100 bill? He checked the bank account and everything seemed normal, and we assumed that the wallet would turn up.
We looked in the vehicles. We looked under the bed. We looked in the closet. He looked at work, and in the vehicles at work. We tried to track back where he had been and last used his wallet. We could not figure out where else it could be.
A few days ago, I was paying bills and noticed charges on a credit card we never use. There were a couple to a gas station and a $50 transaction to McDonalds. My first thought was why did Tim use that card? My second thought was who in the world did he take to McDonalds? He does sometimes take his customers out to lunch, but not McDonalds. So I asked him. His response, "I didn't take anyone to McDonalds. What are you talking about?" ALARM! ALARM!
A closer look and I saw those transactions were from the day he missed his wallet. We looked at the checking account together. At first glance nothing seemed unusual, but there were three transactions on the same day that the $50 McDonalds transaction took place. They were all for reasonable amounts to places we normally go. Tim had just assumed they were my transactions. They weren't.
The remainder of the night was spent in a mad furry trying to remember what exactly was in his wallet and calling banks. Over the next few days he placed a fraud alert with the credit bureaus and tried to get the fraudulent charges removed from the bank accounts. The process isn't done yet. His social security number was in there. So we will have to keep a close eye on his credit report for awhile.
A few lessons we have learned from all this:
We looked in the vehicles. We looked under the bed. We looked in the closet. He looked at work, and in the vehicles at work. We tried to track back where he had been and last used his wallet. We could not figure out where else it could be.
A few days ago, I was paying bills and noticed charges on a credit card we never use. There were a couple to a gas station and a $50 transaction to McDonalds. My first thought was why did Tim use that card? My second thought was who in the world did he take to McDonalds? He does sometimes take his customers out to lunch, but not McDonalds. So I asked him. His response, "I didn't take anyone to McDonalds. What are you talking about?" ALARM! ALARM!
A closer look and I saw those transactions were from the day he missed his wallet. We looked at the checking account together. At first glance nothing seemed unusual, but there were three transactions on the same day that the $50 McDonalds transaction took place. They were all for reasonable amounts to places we normally go. Tim had just assumed they were my transactions. They weren't.
The remainder of the night was spent in a mad furry trying to remember what exactly was in his wallet and calling banks. Over the next few days he placed a fraud alert with the credit bureaus and tried to get the fraudulent charges removed from the bank accounts. The process isn't done yet. His social security number was in there. So we will have to keep a close eye on his credit report for awhile.
A few lessons we have learned from all this:
- Don't assume your wallet is simply misplaced.
- If you have a joint account, both spouses need to look at the activity, when there may be a problem.
- Don't carry items in your wallet you don't need.
- Don't carry anything in your wallet with your social security number on it.
It really could have been much worse, but what a hassle this all has been.
6 comments:
Ugh ugh ugh!!! I'm so sorry! I hope there isn't too much damage done before it's over.
Please file a police report immediately! That proof you may need to prove that someone actually did steal your identity. Insist a report be done.
Your story was a reminder for me to photo copy everything in my wallet. I'm gonna go to xerox machine...like NOW.
Oh, that completely stinks. I've been through this, albeit not for the same reason or the same way but it's a total pain. Sorry!
I've lost my wallet 3x. I find that it's painful but people actually mail it back to me.
I have good karma so I would never take from a found wallet. It would bite me in the behind next time.
yikes!
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