Page 23 - Explore Your AAA – AAA Southern Pennsylvania – Family 2021

EXPLORE | SAFETY & SECURITY FAMILY EDITION 2021
Ready to Travel Again?
Pack This Identity Protection Advice
Are you one of the millions of Americans ready to hit the road or board a plane for a quick getaway or a weeklong vacation again? So are identity thieves.
They’ve formed more creative ways to steal personal information in record numbers from people working, learning, and shopping from home throughout the pandemic. Whether selling data on the dark web or creating fake accounts, identity thieves are going places with other people’s data.
Wherever you go (even if that’s home), always practice these habits to protect your identity:
BEFORE YOUR TRIP
• Clear your wallet or purse. Only carry what you need for the trip, such as your driver’s license, passport, and essential credit and debit cards.
• Notify your financial providers about your trip so they won’t decline your card for suspected fraudulent activity.
Svitlana Hulko | Shutterstock
• Check your credit report. This will help
you spot suspicious changes when you return.
• Hold your mail. The U.S. Postal Service can hold your mail for up to 30 days. It also offers Informed Delivery, which scans your mail and emails you a PDF. When you return, you can check for missing items.
• Pay your bills to avoid exposing sensitive personal information online while traveling.
DURING YOUR TRIP
• Avoid public Wi-Fi; it’s easy to hack. If you must use it, don’t share any sensitive personal information while on the network.
• Safeguard your boarding pass. Boarding passes reveal a lot of personal information, including your full name and travel destination. Use mobile tickets when possible, but if you use paper, upon landing, rip it into pieces or store it safely until you get home.
• Secure important documents. Store your passport and other important documents in your hotel safe. For added
Whether selling data on the dark web or creating fake accounts, identity thieves are going places with other people’s data.
security, take a picture of passports and credit card details
for all travel companions in case wallets are lost or stolen. • Avoid remote ATMs. Such devices may have skimmers
attached or cameras that can capture your withdrawal data. • Don’t overshare on social media. Wait until you return to
post your memories. Don’t advertise that you’re away; it alerts fraudsters.
AFTER YOU RETURN
• Check your bank and credit card accounts for unexpected changes.
• Change your passwords, especially if you accessed important accounts on public internet while away.
In The Air, On The Road or At Home
Stay Safe with ProtectMyID®. Now more than ever, it’s important to keep your information safe from fraudsters looking to cash in. When you activate your free ProtectMyID Essential plan powered by Experian®, you’ll get access to exclusive AAA member-only features, including Credit Monitoring your Experian credit report, Lost Wallet Protection, and 24-Hour Resolution support. There’s a new identity theft victim every two seconds1. Activate your free plan today when you visit AAA.com/IDTheft.
1 2019 Identity Fraud Study, Javelin Strategy & Research
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