Tips
for avoiding scams and theft while traveling are a staple of the
travel writing genre; pretty much every guidebook or travel website
dedicates some space to the subject.
But
in the 21st century, you are as much at risk of having your identity
stolen -- or more accurately your financial and digital identity --
as you are of getting "mugged," which almost sounds quaint
these days (though I do not intend in any way to underplay the misery
and danger of actually getting mugged).
Identity
theft is a growing problem worldwide -- especially for travelers, who
are very vulnerable, forced as they are to use unsecured Internet
connections, carry extensive personal documentation with them at all
times, and share their credit cards with merchants about whom they
know nothing and whom they'll never see again.
Modern
technology hasn't made it any easier for honest folks to avoid
identity theft, either; witness the practice of websites like
Facebook and LinkedIn, which often keep you logged in to the site,
even after you close your browser or turn off your computer. Someone
getting unfettered access to your closest friends on Facebook could
definitely shake out some very "helpful" information before
you knew it.
As
time and technology advance, this problem is only going to affect
more travelers.
Here
are tips to avoid identity theft while traveling:
"Unpack" Critical Documents Before Travel
If
you carry some essential documents with you when you are not
traveling -- the average wallet or purse might include a Social
Security card, bank statements, medical documents, checkbook and the
like -- remove them before you leave home. Essentially, when it comes
to documentation, you want to "unpack" before traveling.
Be Very Careful About Shared and Insecure Internet Connections
This
is one thing that I have found very difficult to do – when
traveling, it is hard to find connections other than public ones at
hotels, cafes, airports, you name it. To see the warning "this
connection is unsecured and others may see your information" is
almost a staple of the travel experience. The risk applies to
anything you type into your keyboard while connected, such as email
passwords and website logins.
Use Only Bank ATM's
A
recent trend among identity thieves has been to install card readers
in an ATM by which they can access your card number and PIN. This
happens most often at non-bank, "generic" ATM's (in hotels,
convenience stores, etc.), which have less oversight and are
therefore more vulnerable than bank-run and hosted ATM's. Stick with
the ones at banks; these can still be compromised, but tend to be
targeted by thieves much less often.
Change Passwords and PIN's
You
may want to change your passwords after a trip; identity thieves are
thought to be very patient criminals, and often wait until you are
less likely to pay attention after a few weeks at home.
