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Travel Logs September 2014

Dollar Sense

Fall Vacations and Upcoming Holiday Trips: Keep Your Money Safe

By Teresa Ambord

Thieves know, travelers are not expecting a pickpocket among that crowd of friendly faces. So while vacationers are busy taking selfies on their SmartPhones in front of the Washington Monument, they don’t expect the guy sitting nearby enjoying the view, to be a thief. He may appear to be answering email on his phone or laptop, when he is actually operating a handheld device which peels the passwords and account numbers right off of the credit and bank cards in your wallet.

The summer travel season is mostly a memory now, replaced by autumn vacations for people like me who like to wait out the crowds. And close on the heels of fall trips it will be time to gear up for holiday travel. Whatever the season or reason for the trip, thieves view travelers the way a sugar-fiend views an ice cream sundae… they look at you and say, “come to Papa!”

Here are some tips from ProtectMyID.com, for before, during and after you travel, to make sure you and your assets stay safe and together.

 

Before You Leave Home

Don’t just lock doors and windows. Do a sweep of your office and other places where you might have left personally identifying documents sitting around. Is there a stack of mail, like credit card bills, or medical bills or documents by the phone? A loan application? You’re used to seeing these items and may not realize that you’ve left the keys to your identity in plain sight. If someone should break in, what treats have you left for them? Don’t go anywhere until you’ve done a thorough check. ProtectMyID.com suggests if your external hard drive has sensitive documents on it, lock it up along with your important papers.

Also before you go, make two sets of copies of your credit cards and your passport (if you’re traveling outside the country). Leave one set in a secure location at home, and take the second set with you, in carry-on luggage or in your wallet.

 

Beware the Middle-of-the-Night Phone Call

Catching you off guard is the joy of a thief’s heart. You could be wakened at your hotel in the middle of the night or very early in the morning with an urgent call, informing you there is a problem with your credit card. Scam artists are counting on you to be confused and to act irrationally in the face of panic. Slow down, take a breath, and don’t give out any information.

Chances are, this is a thief posing as a “helpful” official from the hotel or your credit card company. Sometimes the thief will say he or she is from the hotel office and the hotel’s computer crashed, causing your credit card number to be lost. Or the thief may say the number was entered incorrectly and your ability to pay for the room can’t be verified. Or the very helpful thief might claim to be from your credit card issuer, telling you your credit is frozen or otherwise problematic.

The polite caller may apologize for the inconvenience, and ask you to verify your credit card number and other personal data. Instead, ask for a call back number. Then either find the customer service number on your credit card and call to ask if there is a problem, or if the caller claimed to be from the hotel, go to the desk and ask if they called you. It’s unlikely that your hotel will risk angering you by waking you with a credit card question. And if there is a legitimate issue, it can surely be sorted out in the morning. While you are up, tell the hotel desk to institute a “do not disturb” on your room phone, to ward off persistent thieves. Then go back to sleep.

 

Where the Real Dangers Arise

A recent survey by ProtectMyID.com reminds us that there are reasons why identity thieves and pickpockets love travelers. New places, excitement, a little confusion and distraction, a focus on fun rather than on boring issues like security –  these are all typical of travelers, especially those on vacation, and scam artists depend on you to fall into these traps. Thieves know, travelers are not expecting a pickpocket among that crowd of friendly faces. So while vacationers are busy taking selfies on their SmartPhones in front of the Washington Monument, they don’t expect the guy sitting nearby enjoying the view, to be a thief. He may appear to be answering email on his phone or laptop, when he is actually operating a handheld device which peels the passwords and account numbers right off of the credit and bank cards in your wallet.

Here’s what the survey, by Experian’s ProtectMyID site showed.

  • 30% of travelers surveyed have experienced identity theft, or know someone who has. The same number said it took more than a week to resolve the issues. That’s a long time when you’re worried about your finances.
  • Only 39 percent of travelers take the time to alert their debit/credit card providers before departing, and only 33 percent notify their bank.
  • Just one in three travelers use passwords to protect their Smartphones.
  • Only 35 percent of travelers use hotel safes to store sensitive information.
  • When asked where they feel most vulnerable, travelers named restaurants as number one, followed by Internet cafes, then hotels and airports (equal). But actual crime statistics show travelers are most vulnerable in their hotels, followed by restaurants, airports, and taxis and car rental offices (equal).

The bottom line is, there is much we can do be safer, like making a few simple calls before leaving home, using the tools we’re given, like Smartphone passwords and hotel safes, and rethink where you are most vulnerable.

 

Home Again

Once you are home, take a little time to check up on your identity, say security experts. Take a close look at the statements from the credit cards you traveled with, but also your other cards. You might even take a little extra precaution and order your credit reports from all three credit bureaus to see if there has been a significant change in your credit scores.

 

A Wallet with Protection Power

Many new credit and debit cards now contain an RFID chip (short for radio frequency identification), with a symbol on the back which looks like a radio wave. The card may say something like “pay wave,” “pay pass,” or “blink.” It makes paying quicker for you, but it also makes it easier for thieves to harvest your passwords and account numbers, and clean out your assets. As your credit card issuer and bank replaces your card with new versions, check to see if your new cards are of the RFID variety.

A thief equipped with a handheld device not much bigger than a man’s wallet can simply pass the device by you while standing behind you in a line, and if there are numbers to glean, he’s got them.

How can you protect yourself? An RFID wallet is inexpensive, perhaps $12 at a department store. Or you can buy paper sleeves at some stores, or order them from an online site like IDStronghold.com. Or, simply wrap your card in aluminum foil. Also, carrying more than one card with an RFID in the same pocket has the effect of jumbling information and making it useless.

 

Teresa Ambord is a former accountant and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. Now she writes full time from her home, mostly for business, and about family when the inspiration strikes.

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