A lost wallet is an inconvenience. A lost wallet that also holds a Social Security card, a spare house key and a stack of blank checks is something else entirely. AARP, updated Oct. 20, 2026, lists items that fraud experts say should stay out of a wallet, and ten of them come up again and again across other guides.
Most of the ten share one problem: each hands a thief either a way to open new accounts, a way into existing ones, or a way into the house. They are grouped below by the kind of damage they can do.
Documents That Can Open New Accounts
1. Social Security card. AARP says the card is not needed day to day and could be used to open credit in the owner’s name. The Social Security Administration says in a blog post to bring the card only when absolutely necessary, and notes that most situations do not require showing it. The Week added that the number cannot be easily canceled once it is out. A recent post on the free IRS Identity PIN signup closing in mid-November covers another layer of protection against stolen identities. Anyone carrying a bag on the move might also glance at a roundup of best travel backpacks for women, since where a wallet lives matters too.
2. Passport or passport card. AARP calls a passport highly valuable to criminals. The Week noted that a passport can be used to obtain a new Social Security card, and advised keeping it in a safe place and carrying only a photocopy abroad. A look at the best travel accessories covers gear for that kind of trip.
3. Birth certificate. AARP’s list includes it because it can be used to open fake accounts and obtain other documents. The Week grouped it with the passport as another paper that can help a thief get a replacement Social Security card. Knowing who is really asking for documents matters too, as a post on scammers using real employee names and doctored badges shows. Thanksgiving trips mean more bags in motion, as a roundup of carry-on suitcases worth packing for Thanksgiving shows.
4. Old Medicare card. Older Medicare cards displayed a Social Security-based number. In a 2017 announcement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the new card carries “a unique, randomly-assigned number that replaces the current Social Security-based number.” People were told to safely and securely destroy the old card. AARP suggests taking the Medicare card out only for appointments. Phone scams are a risk of their own, as in a post on fake FTC callers demanding a security deposit, and trips bring hazards of their own, covered in travel blunders that turn a vacation into an unnecessary stress-fest.
Items That Open Existing Accounts
5. Password cheat sheet. AARP warns that a written password list gives a thief access to accounts. Money Crashers suggested storing passwords in a password-protected file or phone, or using a password manager instead. More on guarding personal details appears in a post about personal details women should always keep private.
6. Blank checks. AARP says a checkbook or blank checks reveal a bank account number and often an address. Money Crashers advised carrying only the checks needed for the day and leaving the checkbook at home.
7. A stack of receipts. AARP quoted Steve Weisman, an attorney and fraud expert, who warned that “an industrious identity thief can use the last five digits” of a card number to craft convincing scam emails. The Week added that merchant details and signatures on receipts can help a thief too, and suggested clearing them out weekly.
8. Multiple credit cards. AARP recommends carrying one credit card and one debit card. Money Crashers made a similar case for carrying a preferred card and a backup, since canceling many cards after a theft is time-consuming and disrupts auto-billed services.
Items That Work Like Cash or Keys
9. Spare house keys. AARP’s list notes that a house key could reveal an address. The Week described a wallet with a spare key as “giving thieves the keys to the kingdom,” and Money Crashers suggested leaving a spare with a trusted relative or neighbor instead.
10. Gift cards. AARP specifically names partially used gift cards, because their funds are essentially like cash. The Week advised keeping them at home until they are about to be used. Holiday gift-card season makes the point timely.
What Else AARP Flags
AARP’s longer list goes further, naming a work ID card, a library card, a written PIN and a cryptocurrency recovery phrase. Amy Nofziger of the AARP Fraud Watch Network said a criminal needs only a moment to steal a wallet or purse, which is why carrying less is the common thread.
Get stories like this by email. Sign up for Crafting Your Home.
This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Saad Akhtar from New Delhi, India – CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons
