Outsmart Identity Thieves (Part Two)

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We are continuing with the second part of our two-part blog about keeping your identity safe while on vacation.  These simple but important steps can help keep your identity safe and the fun in your vacation!

 

Use only bank ATMs.  This one should not be new; however, on the off chance that you haven’t heard this one let me explain.  Identity thieves love to put card readers on ATMs located at convenience stores, hotel lobbies, and other public spaces because they don’t have a lot of security or oversight.  While the bank ATMs do.  They are usually located inside or at least have some form of security guarding them.  It is much more difficult for would-be thieves to place a card reader on these ATMs.

 

When possible, check your credit card statement periodically while traveling.   Thieves anticipate that you are busy and are not going to notice until after you get home that there are suspicious charges on your card.  The faster you can shut them down, the better off you will be.  Check that card activity when you can and know what charges should be there.

 

We live our lives on our phones and they hold so much personal information that to lose one or have it hacked would be ugly.  Make sure your phone is secured by a password or some kind of security device that makes it difficult to get into should the phone be lost or stolen.  Many of the newer phones require a thumbprint to get into them.   You could and probably should delete apps that give instant access to your identity like Facebook and banking apps.  These are easily reinstalled once home and can protect you best by not being on your phone when traveling.

 

Traveling with children can be tricky and keeping their identities safe is a must.  Thieves love to steal the identities of children because who would think to check if their child has been hacked?  I know it is perfectly acceptable to travel with your child’s birth certificate or social security card, but it would be much safer to travel with them if they had a passport just like you.  It is much more difficult to steal their identity from a passport than a birth certificate.  Take the time to do a credit check on your children every so often after you have traveled together.  They should have close to no history or credit score.  Thieves love to set up fake ID’s using children because no one thinks to check.

 

I admit that I have not thought to do this next one.  Change your passwords and PINs after you travel.  Have a favorite one that you don’t want to give up?  Consider changing them before you leave then returning to them once you return.  That way if they manage to capture the information, it won’t be good for very long.

 

Thieves spend a lot of time trying to outsmart you.  To try and lull you into a sense of security, they will wait several weeks before they use the information they have collected.  So do yourself a favor and check on your cards and accounts a few weeks after returning from your vacation.  Make sure everything is as it should be.  Follow up immediately if you see anything that should not be there.  Again, the sooner you can shut them down, the better off you will be.

 

 

Keeping safe and secure while you are traveling is important but not impossible.  Follow these simple guidelines to secure your identity on your next vacation, then relax and enjoy your free time!  Contact us or read our blogs about travel tips on our website.  We take your vacation seriously and want to help you create memories of a lifetime.