With the recent increase in identity theft crimes, protecting your sensitive information in your daily life is important. It is just as important, if not more so, to keep your information safe while traveling. Leaving your home unattended provides thieves with the chance to steal personal documents from your home and computer, putting your bank accounts and credit score at risk. Studies have also found that thieves are more likely to prey on obvious tourists; taking steps to keep your photo ID, passports and credit cards safe while on the road can help to protect you from these issues. Here are some ways you can protect your identity and documents.
Before leaving for your trip, make sure that the information you leave behind is protected. Lock your personal documents, including social security cards, credit statements and other information a person could use to steal your identity in a safe. If you have a trusted neighbor in the area, ask if they can keep an eye on your home while you're gone and notify the police of any suspicious activity.
Stop the delivery of mail and newspapers while you're away. An overflowing mailbox or several papers in your driveway is a huge indication to potential thieves that you're away from home. If possible, leave a few lights on in your home; this can give the illusion that someone is there, even if there isn’t.
Notify your bank and credit card companies that you're leaving town, especially if you're traveling to a foreign country. This will allow them to flag any transactions made in your absence, and protect you from possible issues once you get to your destination. Many companies, due to the increase in identity theft, will put a hold on an account if an unusual transaction is made in a foreign country. By letting them know where you will be, you can greatly reduce the risk of any unnecessary headaches while traveling.
Once you reach your destination, take advantage of your hotel's safe. Most major hotels and motels offer visitors with access to a personal safe, either in their room or in the hotel office, so you can store any personal documents while you are away from your room. Use the safe to store anything you aren’t taking with you that could be used to steal your information; wallets, passports and laptops should never be left unattended in a hotel room.
If you use online banking, try to avoid checking your account over the internet, especially in internet cafes. The wireless internet used at most of these locations is relatively easy to hack into; logging into your account or accessing other personal information can provide a hacker with your account information and passwords, leaving your money at risk.
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