LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — When’s the last time you cleaned out your wallet? If it’s been a while, now’s a good time to sift through it and sort out your personal security.
The experts at AARP recommend discarding items such as old receipts, lists, business cards, and punch cards. If it’s not something you need or use often, they say, leave it at home. AARP also urges you to have a secure place in your home for things like credit cards, sensitive documents, and extra cash. In addition, consumer advocates urge you to take photos of all your cards —front and back — so you have the numbers and know who to contact if they’re stolen.
There are some things you definitely should not keep in your wallet, including your Social Security card. It’s not needed for daily use, and criminals can use it to open lines of credit in your name or sell it to other bad actors. Also, don’t carry multiple credit cards; just take the ones you use most often. If you lose your wallet or it’s stolen, you won’t have access to any of your cards, while a criminal can use all of them. Criminals can use your work ID card to target your employer and colleagues with a phishing scam, so don’t stash that in your wallet. And don’t carry around uncashed or blank checks. They’re just like cash to criminals.
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