Lost wallet or purse — immediate steps

The first moves to make when your wallet or purse goes missing — cards, ID, and protecting yourself from fraud.

A lost wallet or purse in Ames means two jobs at once: stopping fraud and replacing what's gone. The first hour matters most.

Freeze your cards. Open each bank's app and freeze or cancel every debit and credit card. Most apps let you lock a card instantly and order a replacement.
Check for unfamiliar activity. Review recent transactions and report anything you didn't make.
Protect your identity. If ID was inside, take steps to guard against identity theft and consider a fraud alert or protective registration.
Replace your ID and licence. Start replacements for your driver's licence or ID card through the relevant authority for your area.
Retrace and report. Contact the last places you visited in Ames and report the loss to the police non-emergency line if it may have been stolen.
Post a listing. Add a lost-wallet listing for Ames — many wallets are handed in and reunited this way.

Helpful resources for Ames

IdentityTheft.gov (FTC)
Report and recover from identity theft
AnnualCreditReport.com
Check your credit reports for fraud after losing cards or ID
Social Security — replace your card
Replace a lost Social Security card

Recent reports in Ames

lost P

Gray metal keyring with blue dog-tag and red heart

I lost my keys yesterday around 3:15pm near the Ames Public Library on Main Street after leaving the coffee shop. It's a steel-gray metal keyring with three keys, plus a blue plastic dog-tag that has a white paw-print sticker. One key has a red enamel heart sticker, and the biggest key is a bit bent from daily wear. The blue tag is scuffed and the ring is a little loose. This set is important to me because I rely on it daily for my apartment and bike lock, so I’d be grateful to get it back; you can email me at [email protected] if you’ve found it.

Ames 3 months ago

lost P

Black leather bifold wallet with laminated dog photo

I lost my black leather bifold wallet yesterday around 3pm near the ISU Memorial Union, by the Welch Avenue shops. It's about the size of a standard card holder, with subtle scuffs and tan stitching along the edges. Inside I have my driver's license, a debit card, and a few folded bills—around $25. There’s a small coffee stain on the back corner and a laminated photo of my beagle tucked in the inner slot. This wallet was a gift from my sister and means a lot to me; I'd really love to have it back if anyone picked it up.

Ames 6 months ago

lost J

Brown Timberland folding wallet lost near Hyland Ave

I lost my brown timberland folding wallet near Hyland Ave at the intermodal facility or near petsmart at Duff Plaza. Lost on December 1st around 2:30 pm. It is a leather wallet.

Urgent

Ames 7 months ago