Shopping Safety Guide

If you opened your purse or wallet right now and examined its contents carefully, would you be able to tell your current financial status? If that same purse or wallet were stolen would your financial resources be available for use and abuse by someone else?

During the holiday season, risks of losing your purse or wallet are higher because of the crowds and movement around shopping areas that offer more opportunities for thieves and con artists. Another risk is just forgetfulness on your part because of the stress of having to use your credit cards or cash more often. Every time the cards leave your pocket or purse, the greater the risk they could be left behind at a counter or register.

Safety experts recommend measures you can take to prevent or minimize your financial loss should your purse or wallet be stolen or turn up missing after a shopping trip.

• Completely empty your pockets or purse, removing checkbook, credit cards and debit cards.
• For each credit, ATM and debit card, write down all the relevant information as you put it back into your purse or wallet.
• List the number of the last check in your checkbook. If you have more blank checks at home, you can figure how many were available to the thief and notify the bank without having to completely close out your account. Putting a stop check charge on a large number of checks can be expensive, so carry the minimum amount of checks you feel you will need.
• If you decide not to carry some items, list where you put them so you will not report them missing by mistake.
• Date the list and leave it at home in a safe place.
• Not more than two or three cards should be needed for any one shopping trip. Having to report many cards after a theft and replace them all can be a major headache. Also, all of your lines of credit will be compromised at the same time by the simultaneous loss.
• Holidays can be the most profitable time of the year for the professional thief because of consumers’ lack of focus on protecting their financial tools while shopping.