10 Things Retirees Should Never Keep in Their Wallets

One of the worst feelings is reaching for your wallet and finding it's not there. Panic ensues: Did you leave it at home? Drop it? Were you the victim of a pickpocket? Following our advice won't salve that panic, but it may lessen it.

Because with every new bank slip that bulges from the seams, your personal information is getting less and less safe. With just your Social Security number, identity thieves can open new credit accounts and make costly purchases in your name. If they can get their hands on (and doctor) a government-issued photo ID of yours, they can do even more damage, including opening new bank accounts. These days, con artists are even profiting from tax-return fraud and health-care fraud, all with stolen IDs.

We talked with consumer-protection advocates to identify the 10 things retirees should purge from their wallets immediately. And when you're finished, take a moment to photocopy everything you've left inside your wallet, front and back. Stash the copies in a secure location such as a home safe or . The last thing you want