Michigan Alert: Immediately Remove These Items from Your Wallet

Michigan residents are being warned about the dangers of keeping too many risky and unnecessary items in their wallets and purses.

While many of us consider our wallets and purses to be our little stash of essentials, it turns out we might actually be carrying some pretty risky stuff without even realizing it. With identity theft and fraud on the rise, Michigan officials are urging residents to double-check what they’re keeping in their wallets.

The thought of having our identities stolen freaks most of us out—and rightfully so. Not only would it mess with our money, but it’d also be a huge headache to sort out. No one wants to waste hours on the phone trying to fix a problem that could’ve been avoided.

Not having certain items in your wallet or purse is one way to avoid becoming a victim. Some people like to believe their wallet is always safe because it’s in their pocket most of the time. Whether you carry your personal belongings in a traditional wallet, a phone case, or a purse, you’re still putting yourself at risk.

According to Discover, Identifying the things to never keep in your wallet is the first line of defense against theft and fraud.  Sometimes identity theft is unavoidable, like when you swipe your card somewhere and it gets compromised in a data breach. But you can reduce your risk by keeping sensitive items, like your Social Security card, locked up and carrying only the items you truly need.