Are any of my readers getting geared up for a road trip this weekend to see family and friends? I bet many of you are!
First and foremost, I want to wish you safe travels. Please don’t forget to get your air pressure checked and make sure you have anti-freeze in your car if you are traveling in cold areas. Don’t try to race the clock and make a personal best in the time it takes you to get from point A to point B.
And if you are traveling with kids, bring snacks. Lots of snacks. Squeeze pouches are my personal favorite for the littles. And for myself, plenty of iced coffee and mint chocolates. Yum!
You are probably already mindful of all of these types of safety tips, but you may not be thinking about the safety of your identity while you travel. Travelers are prime targets, so be mindful, please! A few weeks ago my aunt was traveling in Kentucky, and on the second day of her travels there, she got a call from her credit card company about some suspicious charges. Someone in Kentucky was trying to purchase a $700 airplane ticket. She was able to trace her credit card use back to McDonald’s, where she suspects an employee may have somehow gotten her information, perhaps through the system there. She had to cease using her card on the spot. Fortunately, she had alternate methods of paying for things she needed, but what if she didn’t? What a mess that would have been!
It’s also possible that someone in line used their cell phone to snap a photo of her card. Did you know that this happens ALL. THE. TIME?????
One of my biggest tips for you for the security of your identity, whether you are close to home or on the road, is to NEVER have your credit card out of your wallet while you are waiting to pay. I see people all the time laying their cards on the counter while they wait. All of your information is just sitting there, exposed, and you never know who is watching and either has a photographic memory or can snap a photo without you noticing.
If you think you will be spending a fair amount of money while you are away from home, it is also a good idea to contact your credit card company and advise them of where you will be spending money (geographic location, not specific stores). If they know you will be in California, for example, they won’t flag a charge there as suspicious, but if one pops up in Florida while you are away, they will know you aren’t there!
This month, LifeLock’s goal is to give you great tips for traveling over the holidays that will help keep you safe. Please check out their LifeLock for Life sweepstakes happening right now. Four winners will get LifeLock memberships for two (!) and one lucky duck is going to get a $4,500 travel voucher. Wowzers!!! And really, everyone is a winner who plays because you are going to learn some really helpful information to keep your identity safe, potentially saving you a whole lot of headache!
I’d love to hear any tips you have for folks traveling this holiday season, be it related to identity protection or anything else! Comments here are going to be worth an extra entry for something awesome that I’ll be posting in two days, just FYI!!!
I am a compensated ambassador for LifeLock. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Good advice. My brother-in-law just found out today that his credit card had been stolen and his bank account cleared out. Pretty scary.
We will be traveling across the country next week and I completely agree with you. LOTS and LOTS Of snacks and activities for the kids makes it so much easier! Merry Christmas.