How To Protect Your Identity While On Vacation
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Going on vacation means getting away from the stresses of your daily life. That means leaving your work and social responsibilities behind. The last thing you want to discover when you return is that your identity has been ripped from your grasp. But, going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to be at risk. By taking a few precautionary measures before you leave and being diligent while you’re away, you can almost guarantee that your identity will remain in your control. Below, you’ll discover the easy steps involved for protecting your identity while on vacation.
3 Things To Do Before You Leave On Vacation
Identity protection requires a small bit of planning. The measures you’ll need to take don’t require much time. Plus, the effort you’ll invest upfront will help ensure your peace of mind once you leave on vacation. Devote some time and do the following 3 things…
#1 - Notify Your Financial Institutions
If you’re victimized by credit card or bank fraud, your credit card company and bank can be held liable. Let them know you’re going on vacation. Ask them to deploy stringent controls on your accounts while you’re away. They should be willing to do this because it reduces their exposure to potential fraud.
#2 - Establish Automatic Bill Payment
If you’re going to be away from your home for more than a couple of weeks, have your bills paid automatically from your bank account. Call your utilities and other merchants and ask them to not send you a paper statement while you’re gone.
#3 - Keep Your Mailbox Clean
Identity thieves love watching mailboxes fill up when homeowners leave on vacation. Have a neighbor, friend, or family member collect your mail once a day.
3 Things To Do While You’re On Vacation
You can relax and enjoy yourself while you’re on vacation. But, be diligent about managing your exposure to identity theft. Here are 3 easy things you can do…
#1 - Keep Sensitive Information With You
Don’t leave documents with your name, address and other personal information lying around. Don’t leave them in your hotel or in a rented car. Keep them with you to guard them from prying eyes.
#2 - Protect PDAs And Phones
Most of us take our PDAs and other devices with us on vacation. Keep them on your person at all times. Because they’re powerful storage devices, they often contain a massive amount of valuable data. Don’t let it fall into the wrong hands.
#3 - Avoid Public Computers
Avoid using your hotel’s computers (or those at a cafe) to access your personal accounts. That includes your credit cards, utilities and investment accounts. You’d be surprised how easy it is for a savvy identity thief to access your information once you leave the computer.
Being Away Without Being At Risk
Most people fall prey to identity theft because they fail to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. It’s understandable why this happens. After all, we lead busy lives. The small amount of free time we have after fulfilling our work and social obligations is often spent relaxing or enjoying our friends and families. This is one of the reasons many people rely upon the identity protection of dependable services like LifeLock.
They monitor access to your identity and financial life by establishing fraud alerts with the credit agencies. They ensure your name is removed from credit cards offer lists. They also schedule delivery of your credit reports to help you identify fraudulent activity. In the event your identity is compromised, they’ll hire lawyers, investigators and other specialists to help you resolve the issue. When you’re on vacation, you shouldn’t have to worry about identity theft. Take a few minutes to see if LifeLock is a good fit for your lifestyle.
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