6 Valuables That Don't Belong In Your Wallet

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For easy portability, people tend to keep important things in their wallet. While it is an efficient way, it is nevertheless very risky. If supposed you are becoming the victim of theft, your wallet will be an easy pass for the thief to access all your personal data and wealth. Here are 6 valuables you'd better leave at home.

1. A generous amount of money

Carrying a huge amount of money will hurt when they get stolen. It is fine to bring a little extra money, however you are suggested to bring an amount that suits a day expense.

2. Personal Identification Numbers and Passwords

Some people can forget the PIN or passwords to their ATM, e-mail account, home alarm, or any passworded personal belongings. Writing (or listing) the passwords on a piece a paper and keeping them in the wallet or purse is the worst thing you could ever do. You will give the thief total access to your personal belongings. For better security measure, write them down digitally in your cell phone and protect it with password (hope you can remember this one).

3. A huge collection of credit card

Besides carrying a lot of money, people also tend to bring along all their credit cards inside the wallet. When they all get stolen, it will take some time to cancel all of them and get the replacements. Bring one or a couple of credit cards for daily transaction and leave the others safely at your home; that will be wiser.

4. USB devices

Sometimes people store confidential data or important presentation in USB devices and keep them in the wallet. Either meant for primary data or mere backup, losing them is a great pain. Irresponsible thieves may misuse the data and use them for your inconvenience.

5. Social Security card

The digits in your Social Security can mean a lot to you or the thief. With the identification number on the card, other people can apply for a loan, buy luxury items, or open a credit card. While they enjoy the items, it will be your loss to pay for their shopping spree.

6. Passport

When you are traveling abroad, it is a must to bring along your passport. However, carrying it around everywhere you go is not a safe thing to do; you'd better keep it inside the hotel safe instead. For your identification, bring the photocopy of the passport and your driving license inside your wallet. This is a better way to prevent identity theft.

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What To Do If Your Wallet Is Stolen Or Lost

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If you've ever been in a situation where you've lost your wallet or purse, you understand how terrible the situation can be. You spend all day looking in every nook and cranny you can think of, and it still never manages to turn up. You start worrying that someone might have used your identification card and credit cards to commit identity theft. In this article, I'll explain what to do if your wallet is stolen or lost.

As mentioned, you really need to search your house or apartment thoroughly. Chance are, you've simply misplaced it. Check under the bed, in the couch cushions, and anywhere else you might have been since you last had it. Of course, if you're reading this article, you've probably done all of that already.

Once you've ruled out a simple misplacement, you should call any establishment that you have visited recently, including bars, restaurants, hotels, etc. If you visited a place and the wallet or purse was dropped while you were there, someone might have found it and turned it in to lost and found.

If you're still out of luck, calling your banks to cancel all of your debit and credit cards is a very important next step. If your wallet was stolen or found by some unsavory criminal, you want to try and minimize the damage early. Contacting each of your financial institutions quickly will inform them that you aren't responsible for any new transactions that occur. You can generally find their contact information online by visiting their website.

After you've informed the bank of your lost or stolen wallet, you should also contact the local police department. The police will help your file a report, and if anyone happens to turn in your wallet to them, you will be easier to find. Banks and credit card companies may also want to see that report in order to prove that any fraudulent transaction were not your responsibility.

If you had a drivers' license in your wallet or purse, it's important to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to request a new license. They will generally charge a fee for processing a new license.

In the unfortunate event that your wallet contained a large sum of cash, call your home owners or renters insurance provider immediately. You might get lucky if your policy contains a provision for this, but they will most certainly require a police report. Insurance companies are aware the fraud happens frequently in this type of case, so be prepared to plead your case and provide ample proof.

Lastly, you need to be aware of identity theft on your financial transactions going forward. Check each of your financial statements (online where applicable), and keep an eye peeled for any suspicious looking activity. Check your credit report frequently after your wallet has been stolen or lost, because you never know when someone might try to open a new account in your name.

Losing a wallet or purse is a terrible thing to have happen to you, but if you're diligent in taking action right away, you can help mitigate any long-term damage. Check your credit report at Equifax, TransUnion, and/or Experian, call the police, and hope for the best. Stay safe!

Jason Molnar is the creator of StartProducingWealth.com, a site dedicated to helping people create and protect their wealth from identity theft. By providing an Equifax promotion code, he can help you save money when checking your credit report and scores. He's also active at providing information about leading identity fraud protection service providers, and will explain how they can you prevent becoming a victim of identity theft.

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