Just got back from vacation and the family had a wonderful time. While I was gone I received an email from Debix – an identity theft protection service – that listed some tips on how to protect yourself while on vacation (of course they waited until I already left!). I thought I would share a few of their tips with you:
- Make a copy of your travel documents, for example your passport, drivers license, airline tickets, hotel reservations. Leave it with a trusted friend in the event you need help. Having an advocate at home to help resolve problems can make a difference.
- Call your credit/debit card company in advance and let them know you are traveling. In a down economy, credit card companies have increased fraud verification and may call your home phone number to verify unusual transactions. If the card company cannot get a hold of you, they may shut off your card – obviously not a good thing while on vacation.
- Clean out your wallet or purse and leave all non-essential information at home. Then make a list of what is still in your wallet. That way if your wallet or purse is stolen, you have minimized what was taken and have a quick list to recover.
- Put your mail on hold (you can do this online). Also, put your newspaper on deferred delivery. Anything that piles up at your house gives thieves a clue that you are not home.
- Keep an eye on your cell phone. Many people are storing user id’s and passwords and other personal information on their cell phones.
- Do not access bank accounts from computers other than your own. Public computers may have spy-ware or malware installed which could record everything you type.
If you are interested, Debix has more information and stories at their site – www.debix.com.
For me, I stop the mail (do not get a paper), have neighbors watch over the house, we carry a little bit of cash that my wife and I split up between us, and we do empty our wallet/purse to minimize loss. I have never called a credit card company to tell them I am traveling and I have never had a problem, but it might not be a bad idea (I guess I would feel a little uncomfortable telling a stranger I am on the road!). Making a copy of my info is a good idea that I might start doing. And as for my cell phone, there is nothing on it. My wife tends to not carry her pocketbook around while on vacation – extra weight plus it is an easier target for thieves. It’s sad we have to take so many precautions, but it is a reality.
I must be getting old because a few years ago they would have mentioned using traveler checks instead of carrying cash – I never hear about those anymore. I guess plastic really is king!
I hope you have a happy and financially safe vacation this year!
