Preventing identity fraud.
It’s important to understand what things you should never carry in your wallet to protect yourself against theft and fraud. Identity fraud affects millions of people, and the consequences can be severe. By being careful of what you keep in your wallet, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to theft or fraud.
Think about this: if something is convenient for you to have in your wallet, it’s also suitable for a thief. So, it’s essential to consider the potential harm that some items could cause if they fell into a thief’s hands. Being vigilant about what you carry in your wallet can help protect you from identity theft which can have a long-lasting and detrimental impact on you, including adverse effects on your credit score and even leading to bankruptcy.
Here are some items to consider removing from your wallet.
- Social Security Card or Number
A Social Security card and any identification or documents that include your Social Security number are perfect examples of what NOT to keep in your wallet. Those nine digits could make it easier for an identity thief to open loans or credit card accounts in your name. - More than two credit cards
Carrying less could be more when it comes to the number of credit cards you carry. Only carry department store or specialty store credit cards when you plan to go to that store. - Passwords
Remove those scraps of paper with sensitive information such as PINs and passwords that are just too risky to carry, just take them out of your wallet. - Too much cash
Sure it’s nice to have cash available at all times, but too much cash could be considered a thing to not keep in your wallet since it can make you a target for thieves. When you take out your wallet to make a purchase and sift through a wad of cash, you can be sure that someone could be watching.
These are just a few of the items that we think should not be carried in your wallet, I’m sure that there are a few more items to consider. What do you think that should not be carried?