Lost Wallet — What to Do First and How to Protect Yourself

Lost your wallet — don't lose your head too

A wallet usually contains cash, cards, ID, driver's license, and possibly other documents. Each of these requires a different response, but there's one step you must take immediately.

IMMEDIATELY: Block all cards

This is priority number one — don't wait. Every second of waiting is potential risk of unauthorized transactions.

• BH Telecom Visa / Mastercard: Call the number on the back of the card or the bank's contact center
• UniCredit, Raiffeisen, Sparkasse: Use the mobile app (real-time blocking) or call customer support
• Emergency international number for Visa: +1-800-847-2911
• Emergency international number for Mastercard: +1-636-722-7111

After blocking, review your transaction history for potential unauthorized transactions.

Step 2: Report the loss to police

Go to the nearest police station and report the wallet loss. Specify what was inside. The police report is necessary for:

• Blocking documents (ID, driver's license)
• Insurance claim
• Protection against potential fraud in your name

Step 3: Block/report lost documents

If you had documents in your wallet:

• ID card: Report at CIPS or police station. The old card is automatically invalidated.
• Driver's license: Report at the police station, then go to CIPS for a duplicate
• Passport: Report at CIPS and the Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Health insurance card: Contact the Institute for Health Insurance of BiH

Step 4: Post an ad on Nadjime.ba

Describe the wallet (color, brand, markings) and the location of loss. You don't need to specify what's inside, but mention that a wallet was lost — many honest finders use Nadjime.ba to return lost items.

Step 5: Search places you visited

Call or return to:

• Café, restaurant, shop where you paid
• Taxi or transport you used
• Shopping mall — information desk or security service

Order new cards

After blocking your cards, contact your bank to issue new ones. Most banks send a new card within 5-10 working days. You can also request a temporary card at a branch.

Prevention for the future

• Don't carry all cards at once — keep a backup card at home
• Photograph the contents of your wallet and save securely
• Consider an RFID-blocking wallet — prevents contactless data theft
• Use digital payment methods (Google Pay, Apple Pay) as alternatives to physical cards
• Put a Tile or Chipolo tracker in your wallet