Nowadays, protecting your identity and finances is crucial. Don’t become a victim of scams or identity theft. Learn about the 5 items you should Never Carry in Your Wallet to keep your personal information safe. Join the millions of people taking action to secure their wallets.

You might not think much of it, but your wallet is the biggest source of personal and financial information that a thief can access once they get their hands on it. Therefore, it is important to know what you should or shouldn’t carry in your wallet. Doing so can make it less likely for someone to gain access to sensitive information. This article will discuss all the things you should never carry in your wallet.

1. Never Carry Your Social Security Number

Your Social Security number is the one thing that gives away all your information, including your name, address, hometown, income information, and much more. Therefore, you need to hide your Social Security number from everyone and conceal any documents containing your Social Security number. If you keep any of these in your wallet, you give identity thieves a free pass to steal your identity and exploit it.

Thankfully, other forms of identification, such as your driver’s license or state ID, don’t have the Social Security number anymore. Hence, all you need to do is keep your SSN at home and prevent keeping any paper or document containing the number. Even if you need your number for verification or identification purposes, you can carry it with you, but make sure to remove it from your wallet once the purpose is fulfilled.

By getting their hands on your Social Security number, thieves can do anything from getting a new line of credit to claiming a tax refund. They can even use your identity to book a car or rent an apartment, running away before the time comes to pay.

2. Never Carry Cheques or Deposit Slips

Most people are used to carrying a blank cheque with them if they ever need to make a payment. Although an unsigned cheque is worth nothing until someone can forge your signature, it contains your name, bank name, account number, routing number, and other sensitive details. A clever fraudster can use this information to cause financial damage.

Even if you have a cheque that has been filled out and cashed or a deposit slip that a bank teller has stamped, a thief can use it for a fraudulent transaction. Therefore, you should never carry any of these things in your wallet to prevent the risk of your financial information being misused or exploited for personal gain.

The best thing is only to carry a cheque when heading straight to the bank, and always empty your wallet of any deposit slip or used cheque you may have.

3. Never Store Multiple Credit Cards

In today’s world, ‘plastic Money’ has exceeded that of cash payments, and almost everyone has multiple credit cards that they use to pay for everything, including utilities, fuel, groceries, leisure, and much more. Moreover, people also have several loyalty or membership cards that entitle them to lucrative discounts on various stores or franchises. It is always wise to carry only one credit card and leave the rest at home.

If you carry multiple credit cards, say three or four, a pickpocket can easily fetch your wallet, swipe a card, and put your wallet back without you realizing it. Moreover, since your wallet is full of cards, it might be some time before you notice that one of your cards has disappeared. By that time, a fraudster might use the card, and you would be stuck with a bill amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

Also, if someone swipes your wallet and it is full of cards, the thief can rack up transactions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in a couple of minutes, and it would be too late for you to do anything. The best way to avoid this is to carry only one debit and one credit card with you and avoid overspending or spending on unnecessary items. Keeping all those credit cards away will surely do you good if you are an impulsive shopper.

4. Never Store Gift Cards or Vouchers

Most people carry their gift cards with them, and they can be in the dozens. They carry gift cards because of the “you never know when you might need it” approach. For instance, if you have a Starbucks gift card or voucher and you happen to come across a Starbucks Franchise, you wouldn’t want to regret not having the card with you. However, you also give thieves a chance to enjoy some freebies and discounts by keeping these items in your wallet. Moreover, you will have no way of claiming those gift cards once your wallet is stolen.

Therefore, forget about keeping any gift cards or vouchers in your wallet. There is a much simpler solution, and it involves using a smartphone app that provides you with exciting gift cards and vouchers. This makes it easier for you to carry them with you all the time, and it is also a safer alternative.

5. Never Keep a Password Cheat Sheet

A password cheat sheet is a piece of paper that contains the passwords for all your accounts, including your email, social media, banking apps, debit card pins, and much more. Most people are forgetful and find it difficult to remember their passwords, even if they keep the same one for all their accounts. By carrying this password cheat sheet in your wallet. You are giving thieves and fraudsters an open chance to access all your personal and sensitive information. And there are a thousand different ways in which they can exploit it.

Once your password cheat sheet falls into the wrong hands, the fraudster can email people from your account, access your contacts, photos, and videos stored on the cloud, transfer all the money from your bank accounts, and do much more. Moreover, they can blackmail you for even more money by threatening to leak any photos you might have.

So, you can see how damaging it can be to store all your passwords in your wallet. Firstly, try to create a strong password that you can easily remember and use additional security features. Such as security questions and Two-Factor Authentication. Moreover, you should set up alerts for unusual logins so that you can immediately change them.  You’re passwords if someone tries to access your accounts.

Another wise method is to get a digital password manager and set it up with a fingerprint lock on your smartphone. It allows you to check the passwords for all your accounts whenever you forget them. And without your fingerprint, no one will be able to access them.

6. Never Keep Extra Cash

Most people think it is a good idea to have a good amount of money in your wallet so that you have enough money for emergencies or sudden expense. However, excess cash can be considered bait for thieves and pickpockets.  Especially if they see you open your wallet in a public place. Even if you have many small bills, you will be the target of thieves who want to empty your wallet.

In this age of digital money, there is no use keeping too much cash in your wallet. Typically, you don’t need to keep more than $50 in your wallet, and if you do have to carry a larger amount of money for any reason, it is best to store it elsewhere or hide it inside your clothing. This way, you would be able to carry the excess money and prevent becoming a target for pickpockets.

7. Never Store Spare Keys

Last but not least, most people are used to keeping spare keys for their home, office, car, or locker inside the fold of their wallets. This way, they always have a key on them if they lose their keys or forget them at home. However, you should never keep them inside your wallet because thieves can easily target your home. If you make the mistake of keeping your Social Security card as well. The thief will have your address and the key to your door.

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Originally Published on https://foundme.com/blog/

Maya Janin Blogger & Content Creator

As a freelance blog writer, I’m a passionate creative writer who has written over 40 unique blogs about lifestyle, travel, health and well being, pets, and what to do in cases of emergencies.

I focus on providing helpful advice and resources while educating readers in an interesting and organic way. I strive to make my blog space a safe space for readers to learn while offering focused, targeting, strategic materials as well as free tips and tricks.

I am fluent in both English and French. I spent 18 years in France and I love to tie my cultural experiences into my content. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Strategic Communications and Public Relations in 2021. I currently live in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and work as a Social Media Marketing assistant.