"There's not a huge risk for the consumer except to maybe have to cancel a credit card, " he said.

CNN: Is the e-commerce boom fueling security holes?

When my wallet was lifted from my purse while walking down the street in Madrid last year, I was able to cancel my American Express credit card with a few clicks.

WSJ: Getting Going: The Hazards of Using Cards Abroad

After the death of a parent, send a letter or call the banks and credit card companies to cancel cards and let them know that the cardholder has died.

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