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Emtec Adviser - ID Thieves Don't Take Vacation

Experts say travelers don’t take necessary precautions to protect their personal information. 
 

The Internet has become an indispensible tool for planning vacation or business travel, providing the means to book airline tickets, make hotel reservations, select restaurants and more.  However, security experts say many consumers get so caught up in the planning they forget to take basic steps to protect themselves from potential fraud and identity theft.

"When consumers plan vacations or business travel, they tend to be more focused on getting the right deals that work with their schedules and budget.  It's easy to get distracted searching for the best deal and it’s these distractions that sometimes cause us to make mistakes. We click on search results for companies we’ve never heard of and give more information than we need to on Internet travel sites or on the phone, which can put us at risk," said Steve Schwartz, EVP, Consumer Solutions for Intersections, Inc., a leading provider of consumer and corporate identity theft risk management services.

A recent survey conducted by Experian Consumer Direct found that consumers often put their personal information at risk when booking flights at home, logging on at public Wi-Fi hotspots or surfing the web in a hotel room. Other findings indicated that an alarming number of people are not protecting their sensitive documents before leaving on a trip. In fact, 76 percent of consumers do not place personal items in a safe or safety deposit box when they depart for their trip.

“The survey results were very telling about the many ways your identity can be exposed when you travel,” said Jennifer Leuer, SVP of Experian Consumer Direct. “What people don't realize is that thieves wait for summer vacation, too — not to take in some beautiful sights but to take unsuspecting travelers’ information.”

 Additional results indicated that enterprising identity thieves who monitor social networks or online activity will find plenty of victims. About one-fifth of all survey respondents post their travel plans to social networking sites, and the number increases in the 18-to-34 demographic. Survey trends also showed the bulk of travelers staying connected while on vacation, with a disturbing number accessing public Wi-Fi, increasing their personal data’s vulnerability. 

Whether on a vacation or business trip, the following travel tips  can help protect personal information:

• When available, use a hard-wired connection or a personal Wi-Fi hotspot rather than public Wi-Fi. A DSL connection is typically more secure than any free Wi-Fi network you may find in a hotel business center or lobby.
   
• If you must use public Wi-Fi, create a strong password. Strengthen your password by making it longer and including an array of symbols, letters and numbers.
   
• If you plan on using Wi-Fi provided by your hotel, ask what security measures are taken to protect guests’ information.
   
• Don’t broadcast travel plans on social media sites. Postpone posting pictures of your adventures until you return home. Posting photos in real time are an indicator that your home is vacant, welcoming intruders.
   
• Lighten your load before hitting the road. Cash or credit cards are the best forms of payment while traveling. Go through your wallet, purse and/or briefcase and remove any unnecessary personal items such as Social Security card, bills, extra credit cards, library card and checkbook.  Protect these items from home intruders by locking them in a personal safe or a safety deposit box.
   
• Book travel on secure sites. While third-party sites may offer better prices, some deals are too good to be true. If it is a boutique travel site, be sure to do your research. Check for any feedback on the site, such as in online forums, blogs or groups.
   
• When you click on the page to pay, ensure that it's a secure site. The URL should begin with “https.”