This post is sponsored by the wonderful people at LifeLock, you can learn more about identity theft protection on the LifeLock Site. Whether it’s business or personal travel, it’s important that you consider ways to protect your identity while you travel. I just got back from traveling to San Francisco for a blogger event, it was a blast. I love that I have the opportunity to see new places, meet new people, experiance new things, and share all of it on my blog. However, I admit I am looking forward to my family vacation the most, becasue I can kick back, relax, and enjoy my family. Many vacationers tend to let our guard down a bit while we are on vacation, and don’t always think about identity theft protection.
10 Ways To Protect Your Identity While You Travel
Whether you are traveling on business or with the family, it’s important that you do everything you can to protect your personal information to help reduce the chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. If you are planning on traveling here are a few things you can do to help protect yourself from identity theft.
Call your credit card companies
Before you head our for your family vacation, travel for work, or travel for any reason you want to call your credit card companies. Corporate Travel Safety, which is an online seller of travel security and safety products, suggests that you should call your credit card companies, and let then know when and where you will be traveling.
Stop your mail and newspapers
If you are going to be away from your home you can stop your mail and newspaper from being delivered. Mail sitting in a mailbox and newspapers in the yard can be a sign that nobody is home. Take a few minutes and swing by your local post office and put a stop on your mail, which you never know might be your Social Security statement, payment stubs, bank statements, credit card statements, or other sensitive documents. It’s also a good idea to stop your newspaper or have someone pick it up daily. Leaving it laying in the yard is a sign that nobody is home, which might lead to someone breaking into your home.
Clean out your handbag or wallet
You don’t need to take everything with you, if you don’t need it, leave it at home! Be sure to take out your social security card if you carry it in your wallet, extra credit cards, and any other sensitive information.
Don’t tell everyone you are traveling
Wait until you return to update your social networks! Social networks can leave you in a vulnerable situation if the wrong person finds out you are away. So don’t’ update everyone about your vacation, check it when you are leaving the airport, or even let anyone know you are gone until you return. Once you get home you can share all those cool pictures, and let everyone know you were away on vacation.
Pay bills before you leave on vacation
You might think catching up on bills on the plane or in the hotel room will be a nice way to pass the time, but don’t do it. Leave your bills at home, or pay them before you leave. You don’t know who is in your hotel room, and you never know who might end up with your personal information.
Carry on luggage
When you travel you typically need documents like a passport, itinerary, drivers license, reservation information, tickets, credit cards, travel insurance. Don’t leave your personal documents in your carry on back, because there is times when it is physically separated from you, which means you don’t know how safe it is. According to the US Travel Insurance Association (USTIA) the best place to carry this type of information in on your person using a security belt, because it is physically with you.
Hotel Safe
You might have noticed that cool little safe in your hotel room? Be sure and leave items you cannot carry, or don’t need at the moment in the safe. Leave all your document related items (passport, credit cards, cash, tickets, etc. in the safe, and not laying out in your hotel room while you are away.
Credit card control
Be careful using the ATM, and when possible use the inside machine. You also want to avoid putting your credit card information on public computers unless you are certain it’s a secure site, and your information is removed before your session is ended. Do not provide anyone with your credit card information over the phone. Rather than giving the hotel staff your credit card information over the phone, visit the front desk in person and be sure there is a valid reason for needing your credit card information. Another thing you want to watch for is credit card translations, and this is serious. There was a man who worked at a store in my hometown who was eventually busted for copying credit card numbers, and using the credit cards later for different things. If you use your credit card be sure and watch the person running your transaction, they should run the transaction completely, and there should not be a reason to write or photocopy your credit card.
Use Radio Frequency Identification
According to the Corporate Travel Safety many credit cards have radio frequency identification (RFID) chips embedded, which makes using them easier, but can also make stealing them easier as well. Let’s face it, scammers are getting better and better at getting the information they need, and high-tech scammers can get the information to use for fraudulent activities. Use a RFID protecting wallet, handbag or case.
When something happens act fast
The moment you notice something is missing, report it. Contact credit card companies, and cancel credit cards, alert credit reporting agencies, and if your driver’s licence is missing you will need to visit the local police depart ment to file a report. According to Fodors.com, “The U.S. Transportation Security Administration and airline representatives stress the importance of this step, which creates a paper trail and pinpoint the loss of a specific time and place. If your passport is taken while you are traveling overseas you will need to report it right away to the nearest U.S. embassy or Consulate, according to the State Department. They should help you get a replacement passport, and don’t forget to report the incident to the local police department.
Identity Theft Protection
In today’s world it’s a good idea to protect yourself, and the things you have worked so hard for. Rather than allowing your vacation to take a turn for the worst, be careful, don’t let your guard down, and be sure you have identity theft protection. I have been with LifeLock for several years, because working at the bank I saw first hand what how identity theft affected people.
The thought of being a victim of identity theft scared me, so I decided to protect myself and get LifeLock. I can sleep better at night, and have a little more fun while I am on my family vacation, because I am covered by LifeLock’s trusted service guarantee. 
LifeLock identity theft protection is always monitoring my identity, scanning for identity threats, and when needed responding to identity theft. LifeLock’s mission is to provide relentless protection for all of their members for more information you can visit the LifeLock Site. LifeLock’s 5 Points of Protection
- Monitoring Your Identity – Once you have completed the enrollment for LifeLock® identity theft protection, they immediately start monitoring for treats against.
- Scanning for Identity Threats – LifeLock® identity theft protection includes comprehensive, proprietary meth of scanning for identity threats. They monitor more than just your personal information, but for new credit card non-credit application, as well as address changes. Oh, they also search known criminal websites for illegal selling of your personal information.
- Responding to Identity Thefts – You’ll receive alerts via e-mail, phone, or text message fi LifeLock® detects that your personal information may have been used. You’ll only hear from LifeLock® when it’s necessary, and they are always there to help.
- Guarantee for our Services – Most of you have probably heard of LifeLock® trusted service guarantee. If you haven’t heard about it yet, hang on because it’s GREAT! If you become a victim of identity theft while you are covered by LifeLock® they will spend up to $1 million to hire lawyers, experts, investigators, and anything else it takes to help you recover your identity. You’ll have a dedicated specialist who will be there to aid you during the recovery process, and all the benefits are provided to you without a deductible!
- Tracking your Credit – Don’t forget about LifeLock Credit Score Manager™, which provides important safeguards for helping you keep up your credit score, as well as monitoring it for you.
LifeLock protects your credit and personal information from identity theft and fraud, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. If you are not protecting yourself from identity theft, it’s a great time to learn more about LifeLock and SAVE 10% with the promo code LifeLockSafety. To learn more about LifeLock and take advantage of their 10% promo code head on over to the LifeLock Site.
Don’t Miss The Giveaway
One lucky person will win the book Stolen Identity: What Anyone with a Name, Birthdate and Social Security Number Needs to Know Now. About the book: Identity theft is one of the most widespread and fast-evolving crimes, but many people do not realize that it goes far beyond having a credit card stolen. It can jeopardize your healthcare, block you from receiving that tax refund you need, interfere with your job, and even run up debt for your elderly parents and children. Learn more about the alarming ways identity where thieves operate today and what you can do to reduce your chances of having your identity stolen.
Be sure and read more about identity theft protection tips.
One lucky person will win LifeLock’s new book, “Stolen Identity What Anyone With a Name, Birthdate, and Social Security Number Needs To Know Now.” To enter use the below giveaway widget.
If you have questions about identity theft protection or LifeLock’s service, or just want more information about how you can protect yourself from identity theft be sure to visit the LifeLock Site.
