Question from a reader:
I accidentally left my wallet in the basket of my bicycle from 10 PM yesterday until 2 PM today. When I hurried to look for it, I found the wallet safe and, as far as I can remember, the cards and money were mostly okay. There was a flyer in the basket, so perhaps someone distributing flyers
or a resident of the apartment noticed it and hid it for me. However, when I went to check, the wallet was out in the open, and I wonder if the wind had moved the flyer. I truly believe it was a miracle that it was safe, but since my health insurance card, My Number card, and cash card were inside, is there a possibility that this information could be copied or photographed, leading to credit cards being created or misused without my consent? I would appreciate your guidance on this.

What to Do If You Lose Your Wallet? Legal Risks and Countermeasures

It’s great to hear that your wallet was safely returned after being left in the bicycle basket from 10 PM to 2 PM! However, I understand that such a situation can bring a lot of anxiety. Especially if important information like your health insurance card, My Number card, and cash card were inside, it’s only natural to worry. I can relate to this as I have experienced it myself. Therefore, I would like to discuss the legal risks and countermeasures from that perspective.

Risks Associated with the Contents of Your Wallet

The information contained in your wallet is actually very valuable. In particular, your health insurance card and My Number card contain a lot of personal information, and if misused, it can lead to very troublesome situations. For example, if your health insurance card falls into the wrong hands, they could receive medical services in your name. When this comes to light, it could lead to more complex issues than you might expect. Similarly, the My Number card also poses risks. This card contains your personal number, and if misused, it could lead to someone creating cash cards or credit cards in your name. In fact, there has been an increase in cases of fraud using My Number information recently, so caution is necessary.

What Are the Risks of Misuse?

Now, even though your wallet has been safely returned, it’s understandable to feel anxious about the possibility of misuse. What risks could arise if your wallet were to be misused? First, as you mentioned, there is a risk that credit cards or cash cards could be created. Particularly if you have your My Number card or health insurance card, there are cases where someone could use that information to create new cards in your name. This is a very common form of fraud perpetrated by malicious individuals. I once heard a story from a friend who lost his wallet, and when it was returned, multiple new credit cards had already been issued in his name. He reported it to the card companies and the police, managing to minimize the damage, but the emotional scars took a long time to heal. From such experiences, I feel that the risks of losing or neglecting your wallet are very high.

Countermeasures in Case of Information Leakage

So, if your information were to leak, what measures should you take? Here are some specific steps to consider.

1. Contact Your Card Company

First, it’s important to contact your card company immediately to confirm whether your credit cards or cash cards are safe. If they have been misused, you can request to halt their use right away. Especially with credit cards, you should check your transaction history for any suspicious activity.

2. Report to the Police

Additionally, if you have lost your wallet or suspect that your information may have leaked, it’s important to report it to the police. This is necessary to avoid future troubles. Particularly if you feel your My Number is being misused, reporting to the police is often required.

3. Monitor Your Personal Information

Furthermore, there are services available now that monitor personal information. By using these services, you can quickly become aware if your information is being misused. Properly managing your information is also an important countermeasure.

Considering the Psychological Impact

As you can see, managing your wallet presents many anxiety-inducing elements from a legal perspective, but the psychological impact cannot be ignored either. The stress and anxiety that arise from losing or neglecting your wallet can sometimes disrupt your daily life. I myself have lost my wallet in the past, and during that time, I felt constantly uneasy. That said, it is truly lucky that the contents of your wallet were safe. While it’s important to be cautious about leaving it in the bicycle basket, it’s equally important to maintain a calm mindset to deal with any potential issues. I hope this incident encourages you to be more diligent in managing your wallet in the future.

Conclusion

We have considered the risks and countermeasures related to losing a wallet from a legal perspective. In this case, it was fortunate that your wallet was safely returned, but considering the worst-case scenario, it’s crucial to take proper precautions. Remember that even small matters require careful risk management in daily life. Moving forward, let’s be even more mindful in managing our wallets. I wish for your life to be a more secure one.