ID Theft Risk Factor:
You use your credit card to book trips online
“One of my credit cards on file at a well-known travel site found its way into an Internet 'swap room' where it was stolen. Lucky for me, I was alerted by my credit monitoring service and detected a fraudulent account before it could be used. I got all of my credit cards reissued just to be safe, now I’m monitoring the Internet AND my credit bureau report for extra security.”
With so many travel sites available on the Internet, many people don’t even use regular travel agents anymore. The problem is that unfortunately, breaches do occur at the best and most secure sites.
You should continue to book your trips online, but here’s what you need to know to protect yourself against identity theft:
Know This... |
Here's Why... |
Travel sites work especially hard to secure all of your data, but hackers and data thieves work just as hard to circumvent the latest security patches. |
Credit card numbers are the most valuable type of stolen information because they can be used immediately. If you must register cards at sites, change your "favorite card" often. |
While your financial information is treated most carefully by travel sites, your personal information, such as travel preferences, emergency phone numbers and addresses are often treated with less diligence. |
Skilled thieves will "cull" your personal information from cyberspace and use it to create an alias in your name. This is often a prelude to a financial fraud, or worse, a criminal act. Routine ID theft monitoring of the Internet is recommended for frequent users of travel sites. |
Most people are cautious and shop only on the sites where they feel most secure; however, it’s important to remember that no site is 100% safe. |
Identity thieves are data experts. They’ve been known to hack into some of the most secure sites. The more advanced the site security, the more advanced the hackers will become. IDENTITY GUARD® protection will provide the protection and security you need to continue with your favorite travel sites. |