Travel Tips - Protect Your Wallet

Have you ever had your wallet or your purse stolen? If you have, you know what a pain it is to try and obtain new credit cards, identification etc. As it turns out this can be the least of your problems. If the thief is after more than your money, you may end up being a victim of identity theft in addition to losing whatever money was in your wallet.

We have listed a few steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft, whether it is from your wallet being stolen or from other approaches that thieves will use. If you know of the other ways, please emails us and we will be glad to add them to the list.

There are several steps that you can take that will give you peace of mind and the personal security to reduce the impact of having your wallet and money stolen while traveling, especially when you are on vacation.

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The following is a short list of steps you can take to protect your self if your wallet is stolen.

PhotoCopy both sides of each license, credit card, etc.
You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.
Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad separate from the original
Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".
The next time you order cheques have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your cheques with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign them.
When you are writing cheques to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your cheques as it passes through all the cheque processing channels won't have access to it.
Put your work phone number on your cheques instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.
Never have your SIN# printed on your cheques. (DUH!) But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
Have the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call if your cards are stolen. Keep those where you can find them.
Call and have your cards cancelled immediately
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc. were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

Please feel free to email us with additional items at Email: contact@GCCIhome.com We will be pleased to add your items to our list.

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