Retired
Master Forger's Travel Tips
on How To Prevent Identity Theft
There
are some items people typically keep in their wallets or purses
that are better left at home rather than risk identity theft
while traveling, according to retired master forger, Frank W.
Abagnale, Jr.
Abagnales
early life of crime conducted when he should have been
in high school - is recalled in Steven Spielbergs movie Catch Me If You Can, starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo
DiCaprio. Last year, nearly 3/4 of a million Americans were
victims of identity theft.
"Traveling
with extra checks in your wallet, credit cards you don't
need, or a list of all your bank account numbers is almost an
invitation for identity theft," Abagnale warned. "Too
often, identity thieves start their work with a stolen wallet
or purse. The more information in your wallet or purse, the
easier it is for them to steal your identity.
"If
you don't need to carry three credit cards while you are traveling,
then leave the extra ones at home," he said. "Just
carry the cards you need while you are on the trip. You should
also join a service like IdentitySecure (1-866-263-8258) to
help you cancel and replace these cards if they are lost or
stolen."
Abagnale's
other tips for protecting your identity while traveling include:
-
Never carry extra checks or bank deposit slips in your wallet
or purse.
-
Never
carry a list of all your bank account numbers in your wallet
or purse.
-
Never
carry your Social Security card or number on a trip.
-
Use
the hotel safe to safeguard extra cash, identification papers
you do not need to carry and cards you are not using that
day.
IdentitySecure
makes it easier for victims to recover and get their credit
and lives back on track. IdentitySecure is a membership service
offered by Trilegiant Corporation that addresses the growing
threat of identity fraud. The service protects members in the
event they become a victim of identity fraud, and guides them
through the process of resolving damage done by identity fraud.
For more information about IdentitySecure, visit http://www.trilegiant.com/. |