stolen passport and computer
 

Just had my computer bag taken while at the metro. I know I will not get anything back. But I am wondering if I should now be concerned with identity theft. Has anyone gone thru this?

The metro where? Paris? DC? NYC? it probably doesn't really matter anymore. If I were you, I would immediately change passwords on anything where your sign-on is "automatic. " BUT -- how do we know this is really you? Am I giving a thief ideas on how to mess up your internet IDs?

Contact your embassy immediately, assuming you are not at home. Get the passport issue taken care of first.

Then contact your bank. You'll need to be sure you don't freeze your assets so that you are left without access to funds.

And don't tell us you have a laptop that lets you IN without a password when you first power it up.

No it has not happened to me. However, I am always aware of this possibility. There are two areas: 1. identity theft 2. loss of irreplaceable items.

1. I never allow web browser to store username/password. I set the browser option to clear user data history, cookies, etc at exit. Always choose "this is a public computer" option when asked by bank websites.
2. Important documents are duplicated on SD card and also backed up on nonshared Google Docs.
3. Photos are also backed up onto a SD card every night.
4. Confidential documents are kept in encrypted directory. I use McAfee Vaults.
5. Most important travel docs are also backed up on my Android phone with encryption for ones with confidential info. A photocopy of my passport is an encrypted PDF file stored on my computer, email attachment mailed to myself, and on my phone.

WHERE did you get robbed? That's a pretty critical piece of information, methinks.

Well, the OP says, "- at the Metro", so we can assume he is in Paris, don't you think?

Sorry. It was Barcelona as the train was unloading about eleven PM. Sudden flood of people. and the bag was gone. Going to the embassy when it opens in the AM. Yhey closed at 1 today.

Sorry you had your bag stolen and now have to spend time getting a passport and new credit cards.

Was the bag in your hand or did you set it down alongside you? I'm just wondering how crafty the thieves are.

Credi cards were in my backpack which i had on. Computer, cash, passsport were in the computer bag which I stupidly had just set at my feet for a moment rest. I know..bad moment.

They're very fast.

I could not believe it. I tried to catch up with him and did the yelling and screaming, nut I could not get through the crowd where he had disappeared.

Well you have larned a god life lesson. If you expect to keep your belongings yuo must be much more careful with them. Sadly, there aer theives everywhere - and they spot the careless in a moment.

And never keep valuables in a backpack - they're so easy to slit open - and how can you tell what's happening behind you?

Barcelona AGAIN!!
Sorry for your loss.

There's going to be more of this I hate to say. Things are getting bad and these items are worth a fortune with no consequences if they are even caught red handed.

Lap tops can be immobilized as DD found out when her's was stolen.."icloud", I believe, is the app. Worked for her..

I had passport stolen in Paris a number of years ago and was able to get a new one in about 1 hour at embassy. However, I did have xerox copy. Go ahead and get passport pic taken and bring it with you to embassey

If he's in Barcelona, the embassy is in Madrid. Not quite so easy.

There is a U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona which can issue passports in emergency situations like this. The turnaround time, according to their website, is a few hours provided the OP has the necessary documentation.

See: http://barcelona.usconsulate.gov/cit...passports.html

I've scanned our passports and "yellow cards" and keep them in a file on Dropbox. We also keep a paper copy in separate locations.

Yeah. There are people who make it their job to watch for your unguarded moments. ( and this could have happened in any "metro" )

Thanks everyone for your support. I am alone here right now and this makes me feel very alone. so thanks for responding.