TRAVEL TIPS Protecting Your Identity While On The Road by Amy Ziff Travelocity Editor-at-Large (NAPSA)—Recently, my credit card company alerted me that my account had been breached while I was away on vacation. Fortunately, the company advised me to cancel the account proactively, before any damage was done. But whatif they hadn’t? Imagine checking into a hotel, only to find your account had been frozen. AmyZiff 6 Safeguarding your identity on the road is an important concern for travelers. If you don’t, it can cost you dearly. Every 79 seconds, a thief steals someone’s identity, opens accounts in the victim’s name and goes on a buying spree, according to CBSnews.com. Vacations are prime time for identity thieves because we tend to let our guard down. Their goalis to pass for you on paper and steal their way into your bank account. So if you’re taking a trip, safeguard yourself. Always keep your belongings with you. That said, don’t take more than you need in the first place. Leave your Social Security card behind. Make a copy of every card in your wallet, both front and back and leave it at home. Should anything go missing, you'll need the information, fast. If yowre traveling internationally, call your credit card company to alert them if you will be spending in different patterns. It is wise to use cash abroad when possible to prevent anyone from stealing your credit card information. Use your debit card only for withdrawing cash from the ATM, becauseit draws directly from your bank account. Rememberto institute a daily withdrawal limit from your checking account. Internet cafes and business lounges are handy—but don’t conduct any private accounting busi- ness or access your personal infor- mation there. Those places can be havensfor crafty thieves. A few numbers to have handy in case your cardsare stolen: Visa 410-581-9994; MasterCard 636722-7111; and American Express 336-393-1111. The three credit companies to alert in case of identity theft are: Equifax 800-6851111; Trans Union 800-888-4213; and Experian 888-397-3742. Protect your identity no matter where you are. Rip up every credit card receipt and any carbon copies and check yourcredit status regularly. Make sure to purge unneces- sary items from your wallet at least twice a year. Get in the mindset of protection. Take advantage of a free credit report annually by visiting: www.annual creditreport.com. Being one step ahead of the thieves and remaining on the lookout for signs of foul play means you'll be better able to keep your vacation for pure relaxation. For more travel advice you can check out Amy Ziff’s monthly column at www.travelocity.com /atoz.
