Prevent The Cost of Identity Theft

[amyschiff]

I came across this article today and thought it was pretty interesting. I know I'm guilty of a few things on the list.

Ten Things You Should Never Carry In Your Purse or Wallet

Has anyone had their purse/wallet stolen? How did you deal with it?

[gt0163c]

I'm definitely in the minority being a woman who doesn't carry a purse, although I do carry a backpack regularly. My wallet and keys stay in my pocket and, aside from possibly having an extra credit card or two in there, I don't generally violate any of the "rules" listed in the article.
But the glasses thing I don't quite get. If you don't wear your glasses all the time, where are you supposed to carry them except in your purse/bag? I keep mine in my pack when they're not on my face and that seems to work well. But, then, I've never had my backpack stolen and I don't HAVE to have my glasses to see or drive.

[gtwise]

The list was pretty good and here is my take:

1) Social security card
I never carry mine with me and I told my wife to remove hers from her wallet a while back.

2) Passport and birth certificate/green card
These documents only come with me when I'm leaving the country for a trip. Otherwise they're sitting in a fire safe. I just find it odd that there are people actually carrying this stuff with themselves on a daily basis.

3) Checkbook
I hardly ever write checks, a dozen or so in a year. When I do I grab a check from the checkbook, write it and send it. I see no point toting a checkbook around ever.

4) Keys
I only have 3 keys on my keychain. Carkey, home lock and mailbox lock (I do have a locking mailbox, another key factor in preventing identity theft!). That's it. They are in my pocket at all times.

5) Numerous credit cards.
I carry my debit card, an Amex Blue card and a PayPal Mastercard linked to my checking account. I have over 15 credit card accounts for credit card arbitrage but I just leave those cards in a file at home as they are already maxed out at 0% balance transfer and I would never bother to use them ever anyway.

6) Business cards.
I leave mine in my car, and shove a couple in my pocket if I go to a place where I know I might be inclined to hand one out (It very seldom happens).

7) Glasses
I'm one of those lucky ones with 20/10 vision.

8) Cash
I generally carry $20-$100 in cash with me at any given time. I would not consider it being too much, certainly not enough to worry about if it got lost or stolen. Pissed? Sure. Worried? Not so much.

9) Flash or USB drives
I carry my USB drive in my pocket. It has all my Quicken financial data and all my passwords and account information on it. It is strongly encrypted with a really long and unique password that I have never ever used anywhere else before and I don't plan on using. I use a free open source software for encryption called TrueCrypt. I also keep an openly readable readme.txt file on my USB drive in case it gets lots and some friendly soul finds it. I back up the contents of my USB drive to my hard drive every time I plug it into my PC. It is an automatic sync process that requires no effort on my part. I plug it in and BAM! it backs up.

10) Condoms
Not something I am concerned with being happily married for years....

[jkuo13]

I carry my business cards in my wallet. I don't know where else I would put them. I don't actually network enough to justify having a special case for them. I almost never give out more than one or two at a time, so I keep like three in my wallet.

I think if someone has stolen your wallet, they probably have access to enough information to figure out where you work anyhow.

[rstlne]

Originally Posted by gtwise

2) Passport and birth certificate/green card
These documents only come with me when I'm leaving the country for a trip. Otherwise they're sitting in a fire safe. I just find it odd that there are people actually carrying this stuff with themselves on a daily basis.

Actually, it appears that you do have to carry your green card if you're a Permanent Resident.

I got the following from Now That You Are A Permanent Resident at the USCIS website:

Permanent Resident Card

The Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551, is issued to all Permanent Residents as evidence of alien registration and their permanent status in the US. The card must be in your possession at all times. This requirement means that you are not only required to have a currently valid Form I-551 at all times, but also that you must carry your currently valid Form I-551 on your person at all times.

(emphasis mine)


Although there is a procedure for replacing a green card, that is probably a hassle if one's wallet is stolen.

[amyschiff]

That's good to know the real info about green cards. Probably something I wouldn't have ever thought of.

I think part of the point of the article was to say that if you have to keep these items with you at all times, try to think of other ways to have them with you without storing them in the obvious place like a wallet or purse.

About the glasses, I think that was more directed at people that wear contacts but bring a backup pair of glasses just in case. As a contact wearer, having backup glasses makes a lot of sense because contacts do weird/bad things (like rip in half unexpectedly) or sometimes they just don't feel good.

I'm required to have corrective lenses for driving, so if a contact breaks during the day that could be a problem. That said, I don't carry my good glasses in my purse #1 because my purse is too small and #2 because they are expensive and I'm worried about breaking them. Instead, I have an old pair that I keep in my car, which pretty much ensures that I could access them pretty much at any time I would need them.

Thinking about cars brings up the question of where to keep your registration and proof of insurance. If you keep it in your car and it gets stolen, you've just made the thief's day. If you keep it in your purse/wallet and it gets stolen, the thief has that much more information about you.

[rstlne]

Originally Posted by amyschiff

Instead, I have an old pair that I keep in my car, which pretty much ensures that I could access them pretty much at any time I would need them.

Even though I wear glasses, not contacts, I always do keep a spare pair of glasses in the glove compartment. If the pair I'm wearing breaks, I'll be glad I have the spare pair ready.

[gtwise]

Originally Posted by rstlne

Actually, it appears that you do have to carry your green card if you're a Permanent Resident.

By law it appears you have to carry your green card at all times. However, from 12 years of experience I can assure you that I have never been asked to produce it for anything other than re-entry into the US or entry into Canada (green card works as a visa waiver for people from countries who have visa requirements to go to Canada otherwise). The local police officer has no way of telling whether you're a permanent resident or a US citizen. If you pull up my DL record it will only show my address, birthdate and such, nothing about not being a US citizen. Plus local law enforcement rarely cares about your legality and status, if you produce a valid US driver's license it's not an issue ever. Requiring the carry of your green card is like requiring you to carry your birth certificate. How else could you prove that you're in-fact a US citizen, not a permanent resident/ illegal alien?

Although there is a procedure for replacing a green card, that is probably a hassle if one's wallet is stolen.

I have lost my green card while abroad and it is indeed a terrible hassle. I had to go to the US consulate, prove that I have been in the US within the past 2 years and I do have valid permanent resident status. Then they wrote me up a nice letter stating the above fact for $400. At the port of entry I was treated like a terrorist and detained for questioning and further verification. Then I had to pay an additional $500 or so once back in the US for a replacement card, had to get fingerprinted again and wait about 6 months or so for a replacement card. I do not advise anyone to try this experience. It's painful and costly.

Having lived through it I have decided that I rather face the risk of being caught without a green card on my posession than face the consequences of losing it ever again.

[christinehalvey]

I use to carry purse with me. I carry some cash, social security card, cosmetic items, credit cards, keys and my mobile. Is it safe to carry my social security code. Somebody claims that carrying your social security code with you is not safe because it might get stolen? Is it a rumor or reality?
==========================================
Christine
stop identity theft

[genetrix]

hm .. nice article .