16 Items You’re Carrying in Your Wallet That Put You at Risk!
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Let’s be honest: your wallet is probably just a pocket-sized version of a mini junk drawer, isn’t it? Filled to the brim with receipts you’ll never look at again, gift cards you’ll never use, and who knows what else?
The thing is, it’s not just about clutter. Having certain things in your wallet could be like waving a big sign to identity thieves and financial trouble.
Social Security Card
This little card has one job—stay safe at home! Your Social Security number is a dream come true for identity thieves if stolen.
They could open credit cards, take loans, and create an alternate identity in your name! If you aren’t going to the DMV, keep it safe at home, not in your pocket.
Birth Certificate
Your birth certificate has no legitimate place in your wallet unless you mean to prove your date of birth to someone (and this is pretty unlikely unless it is for some official business). For anyone with ill intent, it’s a jackpot. Keep it home and safe from prying hands.
Passport
If you’re not flying internationally, you don’t need your passport for errands or brunch. Thieves like passports because they can forge new identities that can be a total hell to replace. Keep it at home, safely, unless you’re going to the airport.
Checkbook or Blank Checks
Why are you carrying this? Seriously, when was the last time you wrote a check at the grocery store?
Checks are rife with fraud, and there’s no excuse to carry them around until absolutely necessary. Keep them at home.
PIN Numbers or Password Cheat Sheets
Remembering passwords is such a pain. However, having a cheat sheet in your wallet?
That’s like giving thieves your account’s keys. But instead of that, consider password management apps—way safer, way smarter.
Too Much Cash
Carrying enough cash to look like you have just robbed a bank? Not great.
Limit yourself to only what you’re okay losing —$50 or less. So, anything more will simply make you a walking ATM for pickpockets.
Numerous Gift Cards
Fundamentally, gift cards are untraceable cash. Once you lose them, they are forever gone.
Don’t carry all of them; just take the ones that you plan to use that day and leave the others in a safe place at home.
Multiple Forms of ID
If you’re not going to the DMV or are not on a top-secret spy mission, there’s no point in carrying more than your primary ID. Driver’s license? Yes. Not so for your voter card, college ID or passport card. Those can stay home and be safe.
Work ID or Building Access Cards
If you don’t use these items on a regular basis then keep them at home or securely in your desk at work. These cards are themselves, if stolen, a means of gaining access to sensitive areas or information.
Too Many Credit Cards
Loyalty points are great, but three backup cards for your daily coffee run? Really?
Limit yourself to one or two cards you actually use regularly. If you lose your wallet with just a handful of cards inside, you’re in for a fraud nightmare.
Library Card
The unsung hero of the wallet. It’s probably harmless, but do you really need to tote it around with you every single day?
These will be easily replaced; just no need to sweat it. If you’re not going to the library, leave it behind.
Old Receipts
Sure, those receipts in your wallet can contain bits of your credit card information or personal information.
Clear them out regularly. Pro tip? Go digital and snap a photo of those receipts you need to save.
Health Insurance Card
Unless you’re off to the doctor or the pharmacy, this stuff can stay at home. Losing it will leave the fraudsters with sensitive medical information that they can abuse.
Membership Cards
If it isn’t that gym card or that coffee shop loyalty card that you do actually use, leave it at home. Even if you forget your card, most stores will be able to look you up by phone number anyway. One less thing to worry about!
Unprotected Smartphone
If you’re storing sensitive data in your phone or using it for payments, ensure it’s locked and secure. You can also use more protections, in the form of biometric locks like Face ID or fingerprints. Bonus points if you have “Find My Phone” switched on.
Non-RFID Protected Cards
Using RFID technology, thieves don’t even have to break into your wallet to steal your card information. If you don’t have one, get yourself a wallet with RFID-blocking features and put an end to your electronic pickpocketing woes. Simple as that.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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