Report a lost or stolen credit card to the card issuer as quickly as possible. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. It’s a good idea to follow up your phone calls with a letter. Include your account number, when you noticed your card was missing, and the date you first reported it stolen or lost.

You also may want to check your home and content insurance policy to see if it covers your liability for this sort of theft. If not, some insurance companies will allow you to change your policy to include this protection.