While on Vacation
When you’re actually on vacation, it’s easy to let your guard down. Don’t do it. Use these suggestions to keep your identity safe.
- Always remain aware of your surroundings. You never know when the person standing over your shoulder is an identity thief. The increased number of cell phones with cameras also increases your risk because it makes it easy for criminals capture credit card or debit card information.
- Always keep your electronics close. It takes just a second for a criminal to steal your computer, PDA, cell phone, or any other device you carry. Worse, you may get in a hurry and forget them. It’s much better if you leave your gadgets at home.
- Don’t leave anything with your personal information (or of value) on it in your hotel room. Place it in the hotel safe or take it with you. Hotel staff usually has no criminal record, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a criminal in the group. Identity theft is most often a crime of opportunity. Don’t be the person who presents the opportunity.
- Don’t leave personal information, travel documents, or anything of value in your vehicle. It’s not at all uncommon for vacationers to rent a car, but even rented cars are subject to theft. Treat the rental just as you would your personal automobile.
- Be careful of pickpockets. Use a fanny pack or body travel pack when out of your hotel room. As odd as it sounds, use fanny packs Velcro closings. The Velcro is easier to get into, but it also makes noise, so you’ll be alerted if someone tries to pick your pack. Body packs are a much better choice than fanny packs because they can be placed anywhere on your body, under your clothing.
- Don’t access personal accounts from your computer or from computers in your hotel or Internet café while on vacation. Publically available computers are an identity thief’s heaven. Most usually they’re not protected, and since so many people use them, they’re a goldmine of personal information.
There are no guarantees that if you use all of these suggestions your identity won’t be stolen. Even the most diligent people sometimes fall victim to identity theft. Protecting yourself, however, is the first step in reducing your chances of being victimized. Take the small steps necessary to make it harder for identity thieves to get to your personal and financial information.