*What's In Your Wallet?*
By: Studentnurse
25 April 2004

Ahh another great sunny summer day, you are out with your best buds just having fun. Ya'' ll had a long week at work and you decide to go to the big city. You eat out, visit with each other and have a grand ol' time. The next morning you go out to purchase lunch and you find out your bank debit card is missing.You panic , sweat rolls down your face as you agonize where in the world is it. Worst case scenarios start going through your head, has my identity been compromised?!!?

First off right now make a list of what is in your wallet. Truth be know you really aren't sure what's in there.

a. Make a list of cards bank cards, dept. store credit cards and their who , what , where, i.e. banks name , account number , telephone number of bank/credit card company, emergency number for the bank/credit card company, for lost cards address , etc. Keep this list in a fire-proof safe at home.

b. Put this list of cards in your safe at home where in cases like this , you can pull out a list and contact the proper businesses to put a hold on the account.

c. Make a list of anything else that you carry ID, school id, employee ID, movie rental stores etc. Make sure that your State issued license doesnt have your SSN - in TN you can opt out of this at the license center. This is one more way of stealing your identity. ( Depending on how persistent the criminal really is). Again this is where the list comes in handy, have the pertinent info. to the store on your list in the safe.

d. Report the loss or theft of your credit cards/bank cards/dept. store cards to the card issuers as quickly as possible. Make a call to the local police and credit bureau as well. Many companies have toll-free numbers and 24-hour service to deal with such emergencies. It's a good idea to follow up your phone calls with a letter. Include your account number, when you noticed your card was missing, and the date you first reported the loss. You also may want to check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if it covers your liability for card thefts. If not, some insurance companies will allow you to change your policy to include this protection. Your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50.

Here are some more tips on credit cards and debit cards

For Credit and ATM or Debit Cards:

• Be cautious about disclosing your account number over the phone. (Visit the bank instead to see if that is really them on the other end of the phone)
• Never put your account number on the outside of an envelope or on a postcard. ( Again this is broadcasting your personal information- DONT DO IT)
• Draw a line through blank spaces on charge or debit slips above the total so the amount cannot be changed. (You dont want to leave a $100.00 tip do you?)
• Don't sign a blank charge or debit slip no matter how convincing the cashier is!
• Tear up carbons(or shred them) and save your receipts to check against your monthly statements.
• Cut up old cards or shred them - cutting through the account number - before disposing of them.
• Open monthly statements promptly and compare them with your receipts. Report mistakes or discrepancies as soon as possible to the special address listed on your statement for inquiries.
• Keep a record - in a safe place separate from your cards(You should have a fire proof safe for this) of your account numbers, expiration dates, and the telephone numbers of each card issuer so you can report a loss quickly.
• Carry only those cards that you anticipate you'll need when you are out on the town. (carry cash instead)

For ATM or debit cards:

• Don't carry your PIN in your wallet or purse or write it on your ATM or debit card.( I write on the back of my cards SEE PICTURE ID- again this is another layer of protection for you)
• Shade your hand while typing your PIN at the ATM. Check your "six" at the ATM - ( Hint go in pairs to the ATM)
• Never write your PIN on the outside of a deposit slip, an envelope, or other papers that could be easily lost or seen.( Again this is broadcasting your personal information). At restaurants hand the copy to the waiter , someone else could pick up the reciept behind you that has NO business getting your reciept. You can mark out your account number as well , this is your right to do that.
• Carefully check ATM or debit card transactions before you enter the PIN or before you sign the receipt; the funds for this item will be fairly quickly transferred out of your checking or other deposit account.
• Periodically check your account activity. This is particularly important if you bank online. Compare the current balance and recent withdrawals or transfers to those you've recorded, including your current ATM and debit card withdrawals and purchases and your recent checks. If you notice transactions you didn't make, or if your balance has dropped suddenly without activity by you, immediately report the problem to your card issuer. Someone may have co-opted your account information to commit fraud.

This happened to me this weekend. I had gone to the big city and 24 hours later ---- where is my debit bank card?? Luckily , I did find it much later that night! Next time I might not be so lucky.

Most of us men carry a wallet either bill or tri fold the same goes for the ladies.There are tons of various wallets that feature security and safety such as http://www.letravelstore.com/MB40023.htm.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007L6TV/104-4345772-3435118?_encoding=UTF8.

Basically be safe but be aware of your surroundings at all times. Know whats going on in your environment. Keep a current inventory of whats in your wallet and you will be one step ahead of the gang. With a little time you can prevent your identiy from being compromised! This is crucial especially in the tech age that we live in. There are millions of security products out there on the market, find out what works for you.
Studentnurse

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