It is that time of year that you should look at cleaning out your wallet, thieves and opportunist will use anything they can find to take advantage of other people’s identities. Now is a great time to sit down and go through your extra credit cards and IDs, disposing of or storing them in a safe place. Crime tends to peak during holidays and during the summer, you are at risk unless you plan on staying at home all summer swimming in your backyard, we don’t blame you if you do but the majority of people are out here this summer going to pools, water parks, and going on vacation. You are -especially vulnerable if you are traveling places you have never been before.
Below is a list of things not to keep in your wallet:
1. Social Security Card:
While it is a common misconception, thieves can do anything with the information that comes on your social security card. Many times, a social security number is the last thing identity thieves need to type in before they can get a whole new to them credit card. This little card is very important, and it should be stored with other important documents.
2. Checks:
Checks are one of the worst things you can keep in your wallet, pick pocketers are able to use checks to make withdrawals from your checking account. A check also contains your bank account number and the routing number for your bank, this gives thieves ample opportunity to transfer funds electronically into other accounts leaving your account on zero.
3. Password Cheat Sheet:
Though it may be tempting to keep this piece of paper close, with phones being so advanced we would recommend that you keep your password cheat sheet in digital form. By keeping it under the notes section in your phone and having a copy at home, you can protect and lock your phone with a password keeping criminals from accessing vital information.
4. Birth Certificate:
Keeping your birth certificate in your wallet is a less common issue, most of us don’t just keep a folded-up copy wherever we go. So, this more has to do with keeping this type of information in your car, normally when you have it you are on your way to secure a loan or other big financial things, do not leave this information in your car. Make sure that this folder of important information makes it back into your home to protect your personal information.
5. Multiple Credit Cards:
Try to travel with and keep on you the credit cards you need to use for that trip. The more you have in your wallet, the more susceptible you are to being taken advantage of, as well as the larger the damage will be.
Our last tip for keeping a minimalist wallet is to take pictures of everything you do leave in your wallet, keep the cancelation phone numbers in your phone. No one likes to think that it will happen to them but pick pocketing and thieving happens everywhere in this world. Keep your information safe and have a great summer!