Protecting Yourself Against Wallet Theft When You Travel
While we were on our family trip to Chicago my mom's wallet was stolen. I didn't blog about it at the time, but you can imagine that it cause her a lot of stress, and disrupted the trip somewhat. She was lucky that she'd taken some precautions before the trip that helped minimize the damage, and of course I was happy to foot the bill for the remainder of our expenses. My dad, back at home took care of most of the phone calls for her. Still, we learned a lot about what travelers can do before they leave on a trip to help minimize the disruption caused by a lost or stolen wallet. Here are some measures I recommend you take before you walk out the door on your next trip.
- Sequester Your Scheduled Payments Do you make a lot of scheduled payments on your credit card or use one card for online shopping? Move all of those payments onto a single card and then leave that card at home. That way you won't be forced to contact each one of those vendors if your wallet is stolen.
- Remove anything you don't need from your wallet Gift cards, your social security card, credit cards for local stores, and other valuable items that cannot be used while you are traveling should be left at home.
- Photocopy your cards and ID Having a photocopy of each credit card (front and back) along with a copy of your ID makes it easier to call the credit card companies and cancel your cards. Make sure that the toll free customer service number on the back of each credit card is readable. Keep one copy in the hotel safe, and leave the other back at home where a trusted friend can access it if needed.
- Bring a check In a pinch, you might be able to arrange to cash a check. Carry one or two checks separate from your wallet.
- Split up Your Credit Cards If you have more than one credit card, keep one in the hotel safe. If your wallet is stolen, you'll still have a way to pay for your expenses.
- Spread your money around Many travelers make big cash withdrawls in order to reduce ATM fees. Make sure that you divide that money between the members of your party, and consider leaving some in the hotel safe.
Readers - has this ever happened to you? What precautions do you take before leaving on a trip? Let me know in comments.
8 comments |
Posted on October 28, 2008 |
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Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, WeJustGotBack.com on October 28, 2008 at 4:18 a.m.
Years ago, when we were living in Paris, my mom's wallet got stolen during a family visit. It happened on the most crowded and touristy Metro line--the classic pickpocketer's dream scene. Luckily her passport wasn't stolen and she wasn't carrying much cash, but it meant we didn't spend the rest of the day having fun but rather phoning back to the US to cancel her credit cards. My best advice is to simply be vigilant and observant, and don't hold your purse or wallet where it can be easily lifted. We were chatting away and happily distracted on that subway, and paid for it.
poetloverrebelspy on October 28, 2008 at 5:25 a.m.
I always carry $100 in travelers cheques in my toiletries kit, just in case. They've been there for at least 5 years.
I also always split up the cash I'm carrying and only take with me as much as I need to spend (or am willing to lose) that day.
I have these two theft-fighting tips in the post Random Travel Tips #3 http://nobudgettravel.wordpress.com/2... :
+ Before you take off on your trip, purge your wallet of all unnecessary cards (library cards, gift cards, Blockbuster, etc.) and leave them at home. Better yet, use a different wallet for your trip and selectively and consciously put items you need (ATM card, credit card, insurance information, driver’s license if you’ll be renting a car) into it. Not only does this lighten the weight, it also minimizes the costs and hassle should your wallet be lost or stolen.
+ Speaking of petty theft, many travelers already know that keeping your valuables in a difficult-to-reach place helps protect them from pickpockets. If they don’t know where you’re keeping your money, they can’t steal it, right? Two more useful tools in the fight against five-finger losses: 1) a plastic bus pass holder for your transportation tickets and 2) a coin purse. Instead of pulling out your entire wallet, simply flash your pass or use the coins (or small bills) in the coin purse to pay for most of your daily transactions. Keeping these items separate keeps your wallet more secure!
And finally, from the post 4 Smart Travel Measures You Can Take Today http://nobudgettravel.wordpress.com/2... :
4) Make an essential contacts sheet. Put together a Word or Excel document with the collect calling information for your credit card companies, insurance company and bank. Print out and keep with your passport copies in case of wallet theft, blocked ATM usage or a medical emergency.
Wendy Perrin on October 28, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
Speaking of pickpockets . . . my wallet was ALMOST stolen in Buenos Aires.
My husband and I were in a perfectly good neighborhood, in broad daylight, when suddenly some inky, foul-smelling liquid mysteriously landed on us, probably thrown from a window above. Two young women sympathetically showed us to an outdoor faucet where we could clean it off. Suspicious, we opted to remain a mess and started to walk away--at which point the duo offered Kleenex. They seemed just a little too eager to help, so we quickly left the area.
Back at our hotel, the concierge immediately guessed which street corner we'd been standing on and confirmed that we had nearly fallen for a common con: Had we let them help clean us up, they would have made off with our valuables.
One way to protect yourself from street theft is to be aware of the common pickpocket scams that happen to travelers around the world. A whole bunch are listed here:
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/b...
Shelly Rivoli on October 28, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
When you're juggling a stroller, child in a carrier, or just keeping track of small kids on the loose in strange places (while trying to capture the "money shot" for your Christmas card with your new digital camera!), you can especially look like a good target to pickpockets in many places. We had a close-call on the escalator coming out of a Barcelona Metro stop while my husband was stuck holding up our stroller with our daughter in it and blond woman in a business suit was suddenly rifling through his pockets (immortalized in Travels with Baby). I use a simple credit-card-size pouch when I travel that fits in my front pocket, and usually still use my purse or other bag for everything else. If anything is targeted, it would most likely be my bag, not my actual money or credit card. Thanks for the other great tips in this post!
jamie on October 28, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
Bummer. I got picked once on the subway in Mexico City. I could actually feel the guy doing it, but it was so crowded I couldn't stop him. I chased him through the train station at the next stop though, which was sort of fulfilling. Didn't catch him.
My host told me that most Mexicans carry their valuables in plastic shopping bags (which hang at knee level) on the subway. At least I think that's what she said, as the conversation was in Spanish.
Chrissy on October 28, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
This is a great resource, thanks. I also wanted to point out that you should never carry your social security card or social security # on you whether you are on vacation or at home. This is very important to combat against identity theft. A thief only needs your social security # to steal your id with no problem.
Fiona on January 28, 2009 at 11:19 a.m.
Sound advise! I almost had my bag/wallet stolen while having coffee on La Rambla, Barcelona. Luckily I'd hooked my bag around the leg of the chair, and felt the thief tug my bag--he was on the street reaching through the bushes! I was on my own dealing with my 4 month old baby, so probably a good target.
Gudrun on January 28, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.
I had my wallet stolen in Chicago as well, on the way to the airport, no less! Caused me to make many of the changes you describe - basically, I remove all nonessential items when traveling. I like the idea of consolidating all online purchases on one card and then leaving that at home. Good suggestion!