When you go on vacation, your risk of exposure to fraud and identity theft may increase. A few minutes of planning before you travel can help reduce the risk that a fraudster will ruin your vacation. Here are some tips to help you avoid any nasty surprises
• Clean out your wallet. Remove unnecessary credit cards, your Social Security card, and other unneeded documents that could compromise your identity if lost or stolen while on vacation.

• Photocopy or make a list of the remaining contents of your wallet. Keep it in a secure and locked location or with a trusted individual at home whom you can contact in case your wallet is lost or stolen.

• Do not leave your wallet or any documents containing personal information in your hotel room unattended. Use a hotel safe when available.

• Use traveler’s checks or credit cards for payment. Leave your checkbook in a secure locked place at home.

• Use credit cards instead of debit cards. This reduces your vulnerability to having your checking account emptied while you are on vacation.

• Guard your credit card receipts and car rental agreements, particularly if they contain your full credit card number.

• If you plan on using an ATM card during your vacation, use one that does not have debit card privileges (for example one that requires a PIN and does not contain a Visa or MasterCard logo). You can ask your bank to change an ATM/debit card to one that is “ATM only.” It’s best to use ATM machines found at banks or credit unions and that are in well-lit areas.

• Ask your Post Office or a trusted neighbor to hold your mail for you. Mail that is left in an unlocked mailbox is a goldmine for identity thieves.

• If you are bringing your laptop with you, be very careful when using it to access online banking or other password-protected services from wi-fi networks. Be sure to use wi-fi “hotspots” that are secure.

• If you are using cyber-cafés or other public access Internet facilities rather than bringing your laptop with you, be aware that keyloggers (software that can track your keystrokes) may be tracking you.