Lighten Your Wallet (In a Good Way)

Even though so much crime today is happening online, there’s one real-world crime that will never go away – pickpocketing. In the event it happens to you, make sure a stolen wallet doesn’t lead to an even bigger loss.

Always keep your Social Security card in a safe place; your wallet isn’t one of them. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, keep that card at home, too, unless you need it for a healthcare visit you’re heading to that day.

Store seldom-used credit cards safely in your home. If you carry one you don’t often use, you may not realize it’s been stolen, and you could be on the hook for some of the fraudulent charges. Leave blank checks out of the wallet, too. The same goes for unused gift cards. The best thing to do with them? Use them. The longer they remain unused, the more likely criminals will be able to drain their value.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork  or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.