Losing your wallet is frustrating enough when you have to replace your driver’s license, cancel your credit cards, and figure out how you’re going to pay for groceries. But what if the biggest financial threat isn’t the cash or credit cards you lost? Certain items tucked inside an ordinary wallet could give criminals the information they need to commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts, or gain access to your money. The Federal Trade Commission warns that identity thieves can misuse stolen personal information to obtain credit, access financial accounts, and commit other forms of fraud. While credit cards generally come with important federal protections against unauthorized charges, recovering from broader identity theft can involve considerably more time, paperwork, and financial disruption.
Before you leave home with your wallet, take a few minutes to check whether you’re carrying these three items that could make wallet identity theft much more expensive.
