This isn't exactly "country" related but seemed timely for anyone. I received this via e-mail this morning. Personally, I've had my wallet stolen four times in 20 years, so I'm paying attention. That whatever you want and leave the rest.

Wishing you enough.

Subject: IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET

This email was sent out by a corporate attorney to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information. Please pass it along to your friends and people in your address book. Maybe if this message gets out, we can all help put a stop to identity theft.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know. As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) - Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me and application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along. It could really help someone.

-- Trevilians (Trevilians@mediaone.net), September 10, 2001

Answers

Maybe you should move to the ozarks! I left my wallet in the shoping cart in the parking lot at Wal mart. Anyway I went grocery shoping and realized when I got to the counter I did not have it with me. Well I went back to wal-mart and no one had turned it in so I went on home. When I walked in the door my husband laughed and said did you lose somthing? I looked blank and he handed me my wallet. He said somone droped it of, they said they looked inside to see who it belonged to and since I am only about a mile from the store they just ran it over. My husband got such a kick out of it, said it was the first time money in my wallet made it home before me. If I had bought the food the money would not have made it home. Well did I mention it had 112.oo in it and it was still there. I love the Ozarks!!

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), September 10, 2001.

Dear husband lost his wallet while making a delivery one time in Allaince, Ohio, at a steel mill there, he had barely made it home when the factory was calling to tell him they had found his wallet and had it for him in the office. And, yes, like Teresa, the money was all in there too!!! He bought the entire shift pizza for supper.

There are good people left in the world, they are just harder to find sometimes!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), September 11, 2001.

I actually had my checkbook hanging out my mailbox when I returned home one day. I know I had it when I left home. It must've fallen out of my jacket at my first stop because it beat me home, too. I never did know who returned it. Good feeling, though, to be sure. ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), September 12, 2001.