Protect what's in your wallet.

While methods used by identity thieves to steal personal information have grown increasingly sophisticated over the last ten years, older methods of stealing personal identification documents through crimes of opportunity - including theft of wallets and purses - remain common. While you can't prevent a high-tech identity thief from hacking a computer database of a company that has collected your personal information, you can control what you carry with you on a daily basis.

A simple rule of thumb that everyone can use to reduce the amount of personal information and identification documents they carry and thereby reduce their risk of identity theft.

Only carry personal information and identification documents you need that day. By reducing the amount of personal identifying information you carry in your wallet or purse, you can reduce your potential exposure to identity theft if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen. Equally important, you will reduce the amount of time spent replacing all the lost or stolen personal information and documents in your wallet or purse.

What should be in your wallet or purse:

1. Driver's license or another form of state-issued identification
2. Automobile registration and insurance if required by law.
3. One or two credit/debit cards for the day (don't write PINs on the back).
4. Any other personal identification document you need that day only.

What should NOT be in your wallet or purse:

1. Passport or Social Security Cards or any form of identification containing your SS number
2. Excess credit and debits cards, checks, Health cards, Frequent flyers cards, Car rental cards, or store loyalty cards
3. Passwords, personal identification numbers, account numbers, or any other personal identification documents.