Survey Finds International Travelers at Higher Risk of Identity Fraud
17 Juni 2015 - 3:00PM
Business Wire
Social Behaviors, Including Using Social Media,
Posting Photos and Geo-Tagging, May Increase Chances of Becoming a
Victim
In preparation of upcoming summer travel, LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE:
LOCK), an industry leader in identity theft protection, partnered
with Javelin Strategy & Research to study travel behaviors and
their impact on identity fraud. The November 2014 survey found that
international travel increases the risk of identity fraud.
According to the results, international travelers were 1.5 times
more likely to become victims than those who did not leave the U.S.
internationally.
Though certain locations have higher risks than others,
regardless of the destination, LifeLock recommends that travelers
plan ahead and pack light to help protect against losing
valuables.
Top five risky destinations for international travel:
1. Eastern Europe (2.4 times more likely to experience identity
theft)1. South Asia (2.4 times more likely to experience identity
theft)2. Western Europe (1.7 times more likely to experience
identity theft)3. Canada (1.5 times more likely to experience
identity theft)3. Latin America (1.5 times more likely to
experience identity theft)
“While it is always important to actively protect your identity,
when you are planning a trip, it is a time to be extra vigilant and
practice safer habits to help protect your information,” said
Hilary Schneider, president of LifeLock. “Criminals are ready to
take advantage of the increased opportunities traveling offers in
their attempts to compromise your identity. It is up to all of us
to take precautions to make it harder for them.”
The survey identified risky behaviors that increased the chances
of travelers becoming victims, finding that certain social media
behaviors aligned with travelers’ increased risk: those who are
posting pictures and checking in with GPS are the most at risk,
increasing their chances 46 percent and 27 percent
respectively.
Minimizing Travel Risks
In our always connected world, some things are simply
unavoidable but there are some precautionary measures that can help
minimize your risk and help you get back on track quickly if you
happen to be a victim. LifeLock recommends the following tips:
BEFORE YOU GO
- Safely store documents like your
Social Security cards, birth certificates, and/or marriage licenses
in a safe or safety deposit box.
- Travel Light! Clean out your
wallet: carry only two credit cards and a debit/ATM card. Make a
list of the card companies’ phone numbers in case your wallet is
stolen. Do not keep this in your wallet. Consider storing photos of
your important cards in the LifeLock Wallet™ app, a mobile app
designed to store insurance and identification cards, so that you
don’t have to lug them around in your physical wallet.
- Tell your card companies where
you’re going to help monitor for unauthorized purchases or so
your own real transactions don’t get flagged.
- Try to use a credit card over a
debit card. If your card is breached, it may be easier to
dispute the charges with your financial institution.
- Make sure your luggage tag only has
the key information needed: your last name and phone number.
You do not need to list all your personal information.
- Don’t talk about your dates of
travel on social media, tipping off would-be thieves to
your vacation state of mind.
WHILE TRAVELING
- When in transit – (e.g., on the
plane or in an airport) keep your identification and other crucial
documents on your person, not in your luggage.
- Be careful of odd-looking ATMs.
Identity thieves attach “card skimmer” devices to grab your
information as you’re grabbing cash. Sometimes you can spot them –
the card insert slot looks larger or deeper than normal and there
is typically a camera.
- Use the hotel room safe to stow
away important documents – like your identification.
- Use Wi-Fi cautiously. Don’t
transact or check your banking statements and try not to enter any
passwords. Same goes for the computers that hotels may offer in
business centers; they can also be rigged with simple devices that
fit into the USB port to steal your information.
- Stay alert: whether in a social
situation – like a bar or club – or in a crowded space – like
public transit – be aware of your belongings, in particular
your phone and other items with personal information. Only take out
your phone when absolutely necessary, and if enjoying the social
scene, travel very lightly, be aware of your surroundings, and
limit your number of beverages.
- Take a social media vacation on your
vacation: even accessing social accounts can increase your
chances of identity fraud.
- If you are going to go on social media
platforms: never geo-tag. Disable this function on your
mobile device.
- Post a #latergram. It’s hard not
to snap and post instantly, but try to wait until you get
home.
Identity Restoration Specialists at Your Side
If ever a LifeLock member becomes a victim of identity fraud,
LifeLock’s Identity Protection Agents are ready to help with
identity theft restoration. LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to
hire dedicated professionals with industry knowledge and experience
to help their recovery. Service guarantee benefits are provided
under a master policy issued by State National Insurance Company,
and terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy can be found at
LifeLock.com/legal. While no one can prevent all identity fraud,
LifeLock’s service helps detects potential identity fraud and sends
alerts to members. LifeLock only covers US-based accounts and does
not cover all transactions or monitor all businesses. If identity
fraud does occur, LifeLock is there to help members through the
resolution process and offer dedicated agents to help resolve more
complicated cases.
LifeLock offers more information about identity theft and tips
to help protect personal information at
http://LifeLockUnlocked.com.
About LifeLock
LifeLock, Inc. (NYSE:LOCK) is a leading provider of
proactive identity theft protection services for consumers and
fraud and risk solutions for enterprises. LifeLock’s threat
detection, proactive identity alerts, and comprehensive remediation
services help provide peace of mind for consumers amid the growing
threat of identity theft. Leveraging unique data, science and
patented technology from ID Analytics, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary, LifeLock offers identity theft protection that goes
significantly beyond credit monitoring. As part of its commitment
to help fight identity theft, LifeLock works to train law
enforcement and partners with a variety of non-profit organizations
to help consumers establish positive habits to combat this
threat.
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LifeLockBecca Youngs, 480-427-2170media@lifelock.com
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