Safeguarding Your Identity While Traveling, Part 2

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As mentioned in my last post, identity theft is a serious concern for contemporary travelers, especially if you carry a lot of important cards and information in one place, such as a handy (but vulnerable) wallet. Luckily, ProtectMyID (866/960-6943) offers nine helpful tips for safeguarding your identity while traveling. Here, as promised in the first part, are the six remaining tips:

ᴥ Make the calls: As soon as you're certain that your wallet or important cards are missing, call the issuers of your credit, debit, medical, and driver's license cards. Notify them of the situation and ask for a new account or identification number. Verify that your old numbers are no longer active. Even if your wallet is returned, you can't know for certain that someone hasn't written down your card numbers to use at a later time.

ᴥ File a police report: If identity theft does result from a lost or stolen wallet, a police report filed at the time of theft will establish credibility. Even if you are traveling, file a report with local law enforcement. Always ask for a copy of the report for your personal records. If you later need to contest fraudulent charges or activity on your accounts, you'll already have the report on hand.

ᴥ Contact the credit bureaus: A thief may find enough information in your wallet to open new accounts or simply use your existing cards to commit fraud. By placing fraud alerts with the three national credit bureaus, you can help prevent new accounts from being opened in your name without your express permission.

ᴥ Watch your account statements: Checking for the signs of identity theft is essential in the months following a lost or stolen wallet. Carefully review each account statement, including your explanation of benefits (EOB) letters from your medical insurer. Look for purchases, transactions, or services you didn't authorize or receive. If you suspect fraud, call the number on your statement immediately.

ᴥ Review your credit reports: Reviewing your monthly statements will only identify fraud on your existing accounts. To identify new accounts fraudulently opened in your name, be sure to review your credit reports regularly – especially in the months following a lost or stolen wallet. A new account that you didn't open and don't control is a serious threat to your credit and identity.

ᴥ Learn from the experience: If you've already dealt with a lost or stolen wallet, be sure you're prepared to handle the same situation if it were to happen again. Use the tips on this page and consider signing up for identity theft protection that combines daily credit monitoring with advanced detection and support features.

Hopefully, this advice will help you to avoid identity theft, whether you're venturing around the United States or traveling abroad. In the meantime, though, I'm curious about your previous experiences. Have you ever suffered identity theft while traveling, and do you have any tips of your own for avoiding such a problematic situation?

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below, contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.

Photo of a police station © 2012 Daniel Martone / Text © 2012 Laura Martone

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Laura Martone is Moon’s American Nomad and the author of Moon New Orleans, Moon Michigan, Moon Florida Keys, and Moon Baja RV Camping.