Travelers Make Great Targets for Identity Thieves
ATLANTA, May 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As summer nears, many people start dreaming about and planning vacation getaways. But while you're enjoying the beach, identity thieves are devising new ways to steal your personal information. Consumers often let their guards down on vacation, putting them at greater risk of identity theft.
In an effort to curb the growing problem of identity theft, Equifax shares the top 10 ways consumers can help protect themselves while traveling:
| 1. Don't announce your travel plans on social media. This invites identity thieves to target your house while you're away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. Place a hold on your mail. When criminals see an overflowing mailbox, they see an easy way to steal personal information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. Go through your wallet and leave at home your library card and other cards with your name on them. Carry only necessities in your wallet when traveling. Tourist areas are hotspots for pickpockets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. Set up a travel alert on your credit card accounts, and freeze your credit with the three credit bureaus. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5. Leave your laptop computer at home if you can. If you must travel with a laptop, update your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. Do not access bank accounts from your laptop while in a hotel room or at a coffee shop or other public location. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. While staying at a hotel, lock important documents such as your passport in a safe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. Use only ATMs located in banks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. Protect your smartphone. Create a password for access, and use an application with a GPS locator to find your phone if it is lost or stolen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. Don't put your full name and address on luggage tags. Include just your last name and phone number. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10. Tear up and discard used boarding passes. Many travelers leave boarding passes behind in airplanes or hotels. They often contain full names and other personal information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Everyone loves a relaxing vacation, but this is not the time to let your guard down about identity theft," said Trey Loughran, president of the Personal Solutions unit at Equifax. "By developing good identity protection habits at home and on the road, you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim."
Visit www.IdentityProtection.com powered by Equifax for more information and resources on identity theft and how to help protect yourself and your family.
About Equifax
Equifax Personal Solutions empowers consumers with the confidence and control to be their financial best. Find out more about Equifax's innovative suite of credit monitoring and identity protection products at www.equifax.com. Learn about identity theft and how to help protect yourself and your family at IdentityProtection.com. Get smart information on everything from credit to retirement, all in one place at the Equifax Finance Blog, blog.equifax.com.
Equifax is a global leader in consumer and commercial information solutions, providing businesses of all sizes and consumers with information they can trust. We organize and assimilate data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide, and use advanced analytics and proprietary technology to create and deliver customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates or has investments in 18 countries and is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. For more information, please visit www.equifax.com.
CONTACT: Patti Ghezzi
(404) 290-1996
pghezzi@thewilbertgroup.com
Michele Cacdac-Jones
(678) 795-7885
michele.cacdac-jones@equifax.com
Released May 23, 2013