Summertime Scams: Don't Get Ripped Off on Vacation

Anderson Team


On today's show, personal security and identity theft expert Robert Siciliano gave his tips on ways to avoid identity theft.

Robert wrote the book "The 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen," and is sharing more scams to watch out for while traveling with your family this summer...

Travel Security and Identity Theft Scams
Guest blogger: Robert Siciliano

Traveling for business or pleasure is hectic, unnerving, not at all glamorous and often draining. We often say we need a vacation after a vacation. And when traveling, the last thing you need is to be ripped off. Things to consider:

Hotel Rooms

Hotel rooms are not secure. Just last week I entered a hotel room with somebody else's stuff laid out on the dresser and on the bed. It's happened to me dozens of times. Sometimes the clerk assigns the same room to two people, or the keys work in multiple rooms. Never ever leave anything of value in your room.

Rental Cars

My wife traveled to Spain, got off the plane and rented a car, and drove off the lot. At the first stop sign, a man knocked on her passenger window and pointed, saying, "Tire, tire." She put the car in park and walked over to the passenger side. The tire was fine and the man was gone. When she got back in the car her purse had disappeared from the front seat. Her driver's license, passport, cash, and credit cards were all gone.

Identifying Documents

When traveling, consider carrying your essential documents in a money belt, or one that hangs from a lanyard around your neck, hidden under your shirt. You should always carry photocopies of your identification, but they won't do you any good if they're stored in the same purse that was just snatched from your rental car. One smart option is to scan all your pertinent documents in full color and upload them to a secure web-based encrypted digital vault.

Robert Siciliano is a McAfee consultant and identity theft expert. See him discuss identity theft on YouTube.

About the Author
Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com is fiercely committed to informing, educating, and empowering Americans so they can be protected from violence and crime in the physical and virtual worlds.

VISIT ANDERSON TO GET MORE ON IDENTITY THEFT:

'I'm Going to Be a Lot More Careful' (Anderson After)
Top 10 Ways to Avoid Identity Theft Scams, Plus 5 More
99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen
Robert Siciliano's Top Tips
Angie's List: Top Four Scams to Avoid
Tips from Angie's List for Hiring a Service Provider
Have You Been Victimized by a Fraud or Scam?
Anderson: 'I Was Stunned by Today's Show'