Blank checks

Criminals can do a lot more with a blank check than you might think. For starters, they can easily counterfeit the checks in order to tap into your checking account, says Steve Weisman, author of Identity Theft Alert. They can also use the bank account and routing numbers on the check to withdraw money electronically, which is faster and harder to track. The smarter move is to carry only one or two checks when you know you will need them, leaving the rest safely at home. These are the 10 things you should do ASAP if your wallet is lost or stolen.