How to Avoid Identity Theft While Traveling

Credit cards, passports, travelers cheques, swiping, scanning, showing. Traveling requires a lot of documents and a lot of opening and closing of the wallet. With so many secure and personal items floating around in your carry-on, keep the following tips in mind to protect your identity and your sanity.

Lock it up. This should be understood but traveling can get hectic and we can often forget. If you have access to a safe, locker or any sort of secure place in your hotel or hostel, use it! Lock up your valuables and make copies of any important documents you think you might need while exploring (e.g., passport, identity card).

Connect securely. When you’re eager to Instagram that new photo of the Eiffel Tower and rush to connect to WiFi, be careful what you send over that network. It is most likely a public network and hackers could be waiting for tourists like you to send sensitive information across. Save important log-ins (banks, credit cards) for a secure connection, or even wait until you get home. It wouldn’t hurt to change your passwords if you do choose to access sensitive information.

Keep track of your payments. When withdrawing money, only use certified bank ATMs rather than the generic cash machines often found in convenience stores. If you choose to use your credit or debit card for purchases, keep track of expenses and notify your bank that you plan to travel to avoid any issues with card permissions. Check up on your statements a few weeks after travel, as well.