Protect Your Identity This Summer

When you're taking steps to protect your home from burglars before you leave for vacation, don’t neglect precautions to protect against identity theft while you’re traveling.

Alert your bank. Let your credit-card company know that you'll be traveling, especially if you plan to use your credit cards a lot. Otherwise, the fraud department may see an unusual spending pattern and put a hold on your account until they can verify the transactions with you. Meanwhile, be careful if you get a call or email claiming to be from your credit-card company warning that your account has been compromised. This is a ploy ID thieves use to fish for personal information. Call the customer service number on the back of your credit card to verify any such warning.

Protect your mail. An overflowing mailbox is a sign to regular thieves that you’re out of town. But it can also be a treasure trove for ID thieves, who can find credit-card numbers and other personal information in your mail. Request a hold on mail delivery at the U.S. post office rather than having a friend check your mail every few days while you’re gone. That may sound inconvenient, but it’s nothing compared with the ordeal of clearing up identity theft.

Guard your cards. Thieves—and ID thieves—often flourish in tourist areas, and a pickpocket could hit the jackpot if he gets your Social Security number. So, don’t carry your Social Security number and pack only the credit cards you need. Secure your other cards in a safe place in your home. Keep your wallet and checkbook in the safe in your hotel room when you aren't carrying them with you. Keep a secure record of card numbers and contact information so you can report theft promptly.

Be careful with the computer you use. Don’t pay bills or access your bank or credit-card accounts on a hotel computer, which could have software that logs keystrokes and records your passwords and account numbers.

Consider a credit freeze. If you are particularly concerned about ID theft, a credit freeze blocks potential lenders from accessing your credit report without your authorization and therefore prevents ID thieves from opening an account in your name. It generally costs $10 at each bureau to freeze the account and $10 to unfreeze it, and you can generally unfreeze the account online in as little as 15 minutes. Contact Equifax.com, TransUnion.com and Experian.com to freeze your account.

Check your accounts. As soon as you return from your trip, check your credit card and bank accounts for any unusual activity. Also check your credit report regularly to make sure an ID thief isn’t attempting to take out credit in your name. You can get a free copy of your report from each of the three credit bureaus every 12 months at AnnualCreditReport.com. Stagger your requests so you can access one free copy every four months.

As a reminder, you can log into ICMA-RC's secure Account Access Web site to obtain your financial documents. See “Less Clutter in Your Life” or visit icmarc.org/paperless for details.

For more about protecting yourself from ID theft, see the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft site.