Hi friends! It’s that time of year! We’re wrapping up our Summer vacations – trying to squeeze every fun little ounce out of these warm and bright months before the kids head back to school. I know we’ve recently spent some time on the road and I feel like we’ve got it down, even to our recent purchase of a minivan. Now that thing is a vacation-making machine! But there’s more that you need to know about your road trips and travels than just how to pack your suitcase and how to keep your kids occupied on the road, and that’s how best to protect your identity. And today with the help of LifeLock, we’re sharing some key tips!
- Call your bank and credit card companies. Now our bank is great about this. We have some added features on our account that sends us text alerts when there’s fishy activity and because of things we’ve run into in the past, they’re quick to put a hold on our card if there are any purchases outside of the state. So we’re definitely on board with this tip!
- Stop mail. I ran into this issue when I used to live on my own and traveled more for work and took some classes abroad. Your mail can quickly add up which is not only a dead giveaway that you’re gone, but makes you susceptible if someone gets ahold of your sensitive documents that are just hanging out there for long periods of time in your mailbox! It’s always best to keep it safe and sound at the post office until you get back.
- Clean out your wallet. I always clean out my wallet and purse before we head out. Honestly not only do I leave home sensitive information, but I also only take credit cards that I need. If something were to happen to my wallet while traveling, it’s really best to not have to replace 100% of your cards, when you really didn’t need all of them in the first place.
- Pay your bills before you leave. You never know who has access to your things while you’re out site seeing! And banking over public wi-fi, who wants to do that? So don’t leave documents like bills and other paperwork in your hotel room or hop on your complementary hotel network, just take care of everything you need before you head out on your trip.
- Don’t tell the world you’re traveling. This one hurts me a little inside. You KNOW I love my social media. And there is nothing I’d like more than to document our travels on Instagram, but even I shy away. In fact, we HAVE traveled this Summer but you’ll likely not notice on my social media channels. And if you do – it’s after the fact. I’ll post a picture or two once we’re home or on our way home. Especially being somewhat public, there is just too much that people know about us, where we live so it is just not smart to also tell them when the home will be unattended. Keep it quiet, then update the world when you return. Visit LifeLock for more ways to avoid identity theft while traveling.
And that’s not all. We are also giving away a copy of “Stolen Identity: What Anyone with a Name, Birthdate and Social Security Number Needs to Know Now” by LifeLock! Identity theft is one of the most widespread and fast-evolving crimes, but many people don’t realize that it goes far beyond having a credit card number stolen. It can jeopardize your healthcare, block you from receiving the tax refund you’re due, interfere with a job or loan, and even run up debt for your children or elderly parents. In Stolen Identity, learn more about the alarming ways identity in which thieves operate today and what you can do to reduce your chances of having your identity stolen. Enter to win today via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
These are great tips! (I agree – are you sure I can’t tell everyone when I’m gone? LOL)