Travel Tips for the Holidays

Have Piece of Mind while Traveling this Holiday Season

With a tighter economy many people are staying near home for stay-cations. But for those who still vacation, beware of the unexpected. Tough times make people do desperate actions that may not necessarily be in their usual character. And since we live in a society where it seems impossible to unplug, we tend to take our office and private information on the road with us. Unfortunately, identity thieves don’t take holidays!

Here are a few suggestions that shouldn’t be taken lightly:

1. Lock up Sensitive Information. People we know are the cause for a large number of identity theft cases. It is also the person we would least expect, and therefore we leave our guard down. Before handing over the keys and security alarm codes to the pet and/or plant sitter, be sure to put away credit card and bank statements, tax returns, Social Security information, etc.

2. Record the contents in Your Wallet. Make copies of the front and back of any personal information you will be carrying and it leave behind, locked up. Such as: driver’s license, credit cards, insurance cards, etc. Should your wallet get stolen, it will be quicker to remember and notify the appropriate agencies on what was taken.

3. Remove sensitive information from your laptop. Before you leave, transfer the information to an encrypted flash-drive and leave it behind, locked up. Stolen laptops are another main cause of many security breaches. If you don’t need your employee’s personal files, or vendor billing information, then why risk taking it? This includes your personal files that may have birth date, Social Security number, banking information, or a list of user names and passwords.

4. Purchase a Privacy Filter. This filter snaps on over the laptop screen blocking the view from right and left angles. They come in handy while waiting in airports or sitting in an Internet café while working.

5. Purchase an RFID-blocking passport case. US Passports have a Radio Frequency Identification chip embedded, since 2006. The continuous transmission of radio waves is regularly airing your personal information. Some credit cards have RFID chips as well. Consider an RFID-blocking wallet.

6. Keep your voice down. There is no such thing as privacy any more when it comes to cell phones. Anybody within range can hear your end of the conversation. Think before bragging to your buddies about the expensive gift you are bringing back home. Suddenly, poof… while not paying attention, off goes your carry-on!



7. Beware of Wi-Fi and Free Wi-Fi. Use of a wireless network means your data is being transmitted over open airwaves. Set your computer default to require your authorization before connecting to a new network. Check the address and be sure it matches the one you typed in.

8. Urban Myth says that card keys from your hotel room hold vital details onto the magnetic strip. Even if we don’t know for sure if this is true, hang on to your key (if you are allowed) until you get safely home. Then shred it.

9. Shoulder Surfers. When at a counter checking in/out, or at a store purchasing items, beware of your surroundings. Thieves will look over your shoulder and collect data when you least expect it. Someone standing close to you may pretend to be preoccupied on his or her cell phone, but meanwhile they are taking pictures of your information.

10. Public Computers are Risky. At a hotel or on a cruise ship, public computers could contain ‘keylogger’ spyware without the establishment realizing it. Now your every keystoke including passwords has been recorded for the thief’s future use.

11. Check the Receipt before Signing. If at a restaurant, once your card has been swiped, it is not necessary to leave your full credit card number on the slip you leave behind. Scratch out all but the last four digits. The last four numbers are still needed to help the establishment with reconciliation at the end of the day.

Puerto Rico-born citizens are 40% more likely to have their identity stolen!

FACT – hundreds of thousands of original Puerto Rico Birth Certificates have been stored without adequate security, making them an easy target for theft according to a recent article put out by the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.

Because of the common Hispanic names of most individuals, these birth certificates have been highly desirable on the black market, and being sold for up to $10,000 each. They are then subsequently used to illegally obtain passports, licenses, and other government and private sector documentation or benefits. This is causing Puerto Rico-born citizens to be more vulnerable to identity theft, ruined credit and stolen Social Security benefits, just to name a few.

Besides the enormous risk to all American citizens, there is a significant concern for homeland and national security against criminals. Therefore, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have collaborated with the government of Puerto Rico to enact a new law to better protect the public from fraud and identity theft.

To summarize the new Law 191: on July 1^st, 2010 all birth certificates that had been issued by the Puerto Rico Health Department will be invalid. On that same day, the Vital Statistics Record Office will begin issuing new birth certificates.

Final Note – identity theft is an expensive legal issue that is continuing to grow, with no end in sight. Although it is not possible to avoid being a victim, individuals can still be proactive and get their line of defense ready for battle when struck by an attack. One way to prepare would be to have a membership that is offered through PrePaid Legal Services which is combined with an Identity Theft Shield product.

Excluding the ‘final note’, this post is a summarized version of a three page article which contains further details, frequently asked questions, as well as information on who to contact and how to obtain the new birth certificates being issued. Click here to see the full article in English or Spanish.