7 Tips to Avoid Identity Theft on Vacation

By Dawn Handschuh, Personal Finance Writer   

Summer means vacation time for many Americans. When you're in vacation mode, personal safety and security may not be uppermost in your mind. Unfortunately, identity theft criminals may seek to take advantage of tourists who are distracted by the sights and sounds of an exotic vacation destination, and separate them from key personal documents they can use to empty their bank account or max out their credit cards.

Before you embark on your next trip, "pack" your wallet or purse with the same care you'd pack a suitcase, taking only the items you'll need and leaving the rest safely stored at home.

Follow these tips to sidestep unpleasant encounters that could ruin your holiday.

1. Organize your wallet. First empty everything out, and then "repack" it by including only one credit card you intend to use and your driver's license. (Some identity theft experts recommend bringing two credit cards in case one is inactivated or the magnetic stripe becomes damaged; at home, it would be an inconvenience, but when traveling, it could prove a real hassle.) The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse recommends that you don't bring your Social Security card, your checkbook or other unnecessary documents that could provide a thief with additional information about you if your wallet's lost or stolen. Leave your debit card at home to reduce the chances of your bank account being emptied should someone get their hands on it.
   
2. Photocopy the contents of your wallet. Make copies of everything your wallet contains, front and back. Keep the photocopies in a secure location at home or with a trusted friend or family member you can contact if your wallet is lost or stolen.
   
3. Don't assume your hotel room is secure. Don't leave your wallet in your hotel room while you're sightseeing. Take it with you, or use a hotel safe if you'll be on the beach.
   
4. Stick to traveler's checks or credit cards for payment. If you do bring an ATM card with you, make sure it's one that doesn't have debit card privileges. (You can ask your bank to change an ATM/debit card to one that's ATM only.)
   
5. Watch your credit card at restaurants. When dining out, try to keep your credit card in sight when you pay your bill. At restaurants more than at other retail establishments, the person you pay may often need to walk away to a credit card machine out of your view, giving them an easy opportunity to copy your account information by running a handheld card skimmer across your card's magnetic strip. To avoid that risk altogether, consider paying for restaurant meals with traveler's checks.
6. Don't let your mail pile up in the mailbox. A significant number of identity theft cases still occur in a very low-tech way — identity thieves simply steal your mail right from your mailbox. Have a friend, neighbor or family member collect your mail for you daily, or ask the post office to hold your mail until you return. 
   
7. Leave your work — and the laptop — at home. Make it a real vacation — leave your work behind. If you have to bring your laptop with you, avoid using it to access password-protected online banking or brokerage accounts from Wi-Fi networks, cyber-cafes or hotel business centers that may not be secure. Servers at public libraries or other public facilities may not be encrypted, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.