IF YOUR WALLET GETS STOLEN...
Having your wallet stolen puts you at risk of financial loss and other fraud. To protect yourself, place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, and copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc. That way, if your wallet is stolen, you will know what you had in it and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.
If your wallet is stolen, call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit before authorizing a purchase will know that your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
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
Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed by stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.
Also, file a police report in the jurisdiction where the wallet was stolen. This proves to credit providers that you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).