In “8 tips for preventing identity theft before a trip,” we found that 20 percent of travelers had their smartphone, passport, credit card or driver’s license stolen while traveling and I discussed eight tips for preventing identity theft before you leave home to travel domestically or internationally.
Here are nine tips to prevent identity theft while you’re traveling:
1. Beware of public computers — Restaurants, bars, hotels, etc., offer Wi-Fi Internet connections throughout much of the world, often free, so we can connect with our smartphones, tablets and laptops. Sometimes, however, we can’t use our own devices as we need to print online purchased tickets or airline boarding passes, so we use public computers, such as those in hotel business centers. When using them, don’t allow the information you type in any form and passwords to be saved on the computer. Delete your browser history and cookies. Never check your credit card or bank accounts on a public computer. Do that with your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
2. Beware of unsecured networks — Wi-Fi makes Internet access while traveling easy and convenient, but it may make you vulnerable to hackers. Many Wi-Fi networks are unsecured, which makes spying on you through the networks easy. Wi-Fi network spoofing, where you connect unknowingly to a rogue network is far more easily accomplished when the network you want is unsecured. Use your laptop’s firewall on any network while traveling.
3. Minimize giving out your phone number — You typically must give out your phone number when making hotel or other reservations, but avoid giving it out while traveling, whenever possible. When thieves get hold of a phone number, they can easily spam your phone in an attempt to get other information such as credit card or bank account numbers via scam calls.
4. Use your credit card carefully and watch out for debit card use — It’s fine to use your credit card at airports, most hotels, well known restaurants and shops, but if you’re in an out of the way place, especially if they want to take your card to the “back room,” use cash.
5. Be wary of ATM usage — You have to be careful when using an ATM while traveling. I stick to ones at banks even though they’re often inconvenient. They’re less likely hacked. ATM’s can have attached skimmers and can be fake units. Skimmers are attachments to ATMs to steal your card information and PIN number on legitimate ATM’s. It may be hard to believe, but there are also fake ATMs. In 2013, Brian Krebs wrote about a fake ATM in Curitiba, Brazil. You can use ATM locators from Visa and Mastercard to find legitimate ATM locations.
6. Check your credit card and bank statements regularly while traveling — It doesn’t take much to kill your credit rating. Someone opening a credit card account in your name, or running up your account balance can really hurt. Someone cleaning out your bank accounts via your debit card can ruin your vacation. The easiest way to cut off those problems before they become disasters is by monitoring your credit card and bank statements and your credit score while traveling. Another help I’ve found is Apple Pay. Apple Pay displays each transaction from one of my credit cards on my iPhone immediately after it’s charged. It lets me spot fraudulent charges in real time so I can contact my credit card company to stop the unauthorized use.
7. Lock up your valuables including travel documents — I know room safes and hotel safes aren’t perfect, but they’re better for stowing your valuables and documents than leaving them on the room chest, or in your pockets or bag.
8. Be wary of pickpockets who aren’t just looking for your cash and credit cards — Pickpockets are found in most major cities, generally working high tourist traffic areas. In addition to your cash and credit cards, they’re looking to steal your identity. Travelers should use travel pouches and money belts to secure their cash, cards, and Id’s, including their passport. If given the chance, thieves will also steal your unsecured phones, tablets and laptops. Pay attention for shoulder surfers. When you’re talking on your cell phone, don’t say anything the person behind your shoulder can overhear and use against you.
9. Use public restrooms with intelligence — That means don’t hang your purse or bag of belongings from the hook on the door as it’s too easy to grab it and your identity.
Here’s one final tip for once you’re home safe:
Shred your travel documents — Protecting your identity continues once you’ve returned home from your vacation or business trip. Copies of travel documents you’re throwing out should be shredded or at least torn to shreds. They often have critical identity information in them. If you’re like me, you keep your boarding passes from every trip until you’re sure you’ve gotten credit for each flight. It turns out you need to shred your boarding passes once you don’t need them. Brian Krebs reports the easily read bar and QR codes on boarding passes contain your name, frequent flyer number and other personally identifiable information.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
