A national radio talk show host encourages people to get rid of their credit cards and start paying cash for everything. They call in for a "plastectomy," destroying their cards on the air using various creative techniques - blender, lawn mower... I even heard one guy who claimed he pinned his to a tree, then shot it with a pistol, while the audience listened. While perhaps not that creative, many of us will decide we're finished with a credit card, so we cut it up and throw it in the trash.

But that does not close your account. It is still open, and an ID thief could access your account number and use it. When you are finished with a card, you need to call the card company and cancel, then ask for written confirmation of same.

So, how do you track down all those cards you used to have, but snipped? By checking your free credit report - it will show you what cards you still have open and give you contact info for each.