The holiday season tends to be a peak time for travel, and this year will not buck that trend. According to a recent Deloitte study, more than half of surveyed Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January this year.
But criminals and scam artists may view the holiday season as a prime opportunity to target travelers. It is important to stay vigilant to protect yourself and your family, even when you just want to focus on seeing your loved ones or getting in some relaxation
Here are our top tips to help you avoid travel scams when you hit the road around the holidays.
How to Keep Your Identity Safe While Traveling for the Holidays
Whether you’re traveling for the holiday season, or any time of year, these tips can help you defend yourself against scammers and threats.
1. Watch Out for Travel Booking Scams
Before your trip even begins, you need to watch out for travel booking scams that aim to steal your money or personally identifiable information (PII) that can be used to commit identity theft.
Here are a few common types of travel booking scams:
- Free Vacation Prize Scams: If you see websites promoting “free vacations” or receive unsolicited emails, text messages, or calls about a vacation giveaway, do not jump on the “prize.” The scammer will usually ask you to pay fees or taxes up front to claim your giveaway, then take the money and run.
- Vacation Deal Scams: Watch out for online ads, robocalls, or emails and text messages about fantastic vacation deals that seem too good to be true (because they are). If you are looking for savings, it is safer to hunt for deals on the travel provider’s official website.
- Rental Listing Scams: Airbnb, VRBO, and other property listing websites offer a way for you to book rental homes for your vacation. But scammers may use these platforms to create fake listings, try to take payment outside the platform, or bait-and-switch you with a less desirable property. Check out IdentityIQ’s guide to Airbnb scams for some examples of what to look out for.
2. Lock Down Your Devices and Accounts
Before you leave, take the time to prepare your devices and accounts to make sure you are protected while on the move.
Here are some ways to lock down your devices and accounts before traveling:
- Update Your Software: Make sure your devices and apps are running on the latest software versions that contain the most up-to-date security features and patches.
- Set Up Strong Passwords: You should have strong, unique passwords (ideally, a random string of numbers and letters) for every account you have. Do not reuse the same password across your accounts.
- Enable Two-factor Authentication (2FA): When you set up 2FA on your accounts, it adds an extra layer of security at the point of login. Even if someone gets ahold of your login credentials, they will not be able to access your account without a second verification that goes to your phone or your email account.
- Secure Your Devices: Make sure you have a designated spot for your devices when you travel – such as keeping your phone in your front pocket or a dedicated bag that you do not leave out of sight. Keep your phone locked down with a passcode and/or biometrics so that no one can break into your phone if they pick it up.
- Turn on Find My Device: Before your trip, enable the “Find My” setting on your mobile phone and other devices that offer the feature. This allows you to locate your device if you lose it, and remotely perform a factory reset if your phone is stolen.
3. Pay Safely on the Road
Choose safe methods to pay for goods and services while you are traveling. Use these tips to keep your payments safe:
- Use a Credit Card: Credit cards tend to have the strongest consumer protections, with federal law limiting your liability for unauthorized transactions to $50 once fraud gets reported (and many credit card issuers offer zero-liability for fraud). Debit cards have some federal protection, but they are typically not as robust as credit cards.
- Only Pack the Cards You Need: It is a good idea to bring a backup credit card or debit card in case your preferred payment card is lost or stolen. But stick to two or three payment options, because packing a wide variety of cards increases the impact and risk if your wallet or suitcase is lost or stolen.
- Avoid Large Cash or Payment App Transactions: Carrying some local currency is a good idea, but you should avoid carrying substantial amounts of cash or making large transactions via digital payment apps. These payment methods are more vulnerable to theft or scams, and it is more difficult to recover your funds if you get fleeced.
- Watch Out for Credit Card Skimmers: Credit card skimmers are illegal devices that criminals install at payment points of service (such as ATMs, gas station card readers, and merchant credit card machines) to steal credit card information. Check out our guide to spotting credit card skimmers so you can help keep your cards safe.
4. Only Use Secure Wi-Fi Networks
Public Wi-Fi networks, like the ones you can connect to in airports and coffee shops, are vulnerable to criminals. Thieves can set up fake networks to lure unsuspecting travelers and then monitor the things you do on your connected devices, or hack into networks with insufficient security settings.
Only connect to password-protected, private networks when possible. When in doubt, stick to your mobile data network to keep your data away from prying eyes.
5. Protect Your Physical Identity
Of course, holiday travel threats do not just happen online. You need to protect your physical identity and property.
- Secure Personal Documents: Keep passports, boarding passes, and other sensitive documents in your sight or on your person in a pocket or a secure bag that a thief would find difficult to access. Do not throw away boarding passes in a public wastebin, as they contain personally identifiable information (PII).
- Use RFID-Blocking Wallets: RFID-blocking wallets and passport holders use carbon fiber or aluminum to protect your credit cards, debit cards, and passports from devices that can be used to skim your information.
- Avoid Posting on Social Media: Resist the urge to post pictures from your vacation on social media. It could tip criminals off that you are away, and your home is vulnerable to break-ins. Wait to share details about your trip until you get home.
How IdentityIQ Can Provide a Travel Safety Net
Taking the steps outlined above can help keep you safer from scams, theft, and fraud, but the truth is that you can never be 100% protected. Identity theft protection from IdentityIQ can significantly strengthen your defenses and give you greater peace of mind. Here’s how:
- Credit Monitoring: IdentityIQ provides credit monitoring with all three major credit bureaus, and sends real-time alerts when suspicious activity is detected—allowing you to respond quickly to potential fraud.
- Device Protection: IdentityIQ plans including Bitdefender Total Security® come with antivirus software and access to a virtual private network (VPN). These digital tools help protect your devices from malware and keep your browsing activity private and anonymous.
- Dark Web Monitoring: If your personal information is stolen in a data breach or lifted from you during your holiday travels, it could get listed for sale on the dark web. IdentityIQ scans the dark web to look for your PII and notifies you when your information is detected.
- Identity Restoration: If you do fall victim to scams over the holidays, IdentityIQ has the expertise and resources to help you recover quickly. With 100% US-based fraud restoration team members and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance4, our industry-leading restoration support provides the help you need to get back to normal faster.
FAQs About Avoiding Holiday Travel Scams
Before you hit the road, check out these frequently asked questions about avoiding holiday travel scams:
1. What are the most common holiday travel scams?
Common travel scams include fake vacation giveaways, unrealistic travel deals, fraudulent rental listings, and credit card skimming at ATMs or gas stations.
2. How can I avoid falling for fake travel deals?
To avoid falling for fake travel deals, book only through trusted travel providers, verify websites before making payments, and ignore unsolicited emails or messages that promise exclusive discounts.
3. What should I do before traveling to protect my identity?
Before you travel, protect your identity by updating your device software, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, turning on tracking features, and keeping important documents secure.
4. Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi while traveling?
Public Wi-Fi can expose your data to hackers, and is not usually safe to use. Only use secure, password-protected networks or a VPN to help ensure your information stays safe.
5. How can I safely pay for purchases while traveling?
To help keep your funds safe while traveling, experts suggest you use credit cards instead of debit cards, carry only essential cards with you, avoid large cash payments, and check card terminals for signs of card skimmers.
Stay Safe During the Holidays and All Year Round
This time of year is all about creating memories with your loved ones. Make sure those memories are happy ones by taking important steps to protect yourself from the time you book your travel until well after you return home.
IdentityIQ can help you expand your safety net with identity monitoring, powerful digital protection tools, and restoration assistance in case you do fall victim to a scam.
Don’t let travel scams catch you off guard this year. Get started with IdentityIQ today to reduce your risk and enjoy a safer, more peaceful holiday season.
