 TITLE: How to Prevent Identity Theft While Traveling CONTENT: Keep Your Identity Safe During the Trip\n---------------------------------------\nYou're not off the hook yet. In fact, diligence while you travel is especially important. Here are some precautions to take.\n*   **Try not to use public Wi-Fi, which is easy to hack.** If you must use public Wi-Fi, don't share any personal information. Similarly, try to avoid using a public computer; but if you do, always make sure you completely log out of any website you visit and don't do any banking or bill paying.\n*   **Guard your boarding passes.** Your airline boarding pass shares a lot of information about you, from your full name to your travel plans. Use a mobile ticket when possible. If you do use a paper ticket, don't toss it in your hotel trash can. Rip it into pieces or tuck it away until you get home where it can be shredded.\n*   **Don't put anything of value in your checked luggage.** Keep the most sensitive documents in a bag tucked under the seat in front of you on a plane, rather than in anything that goes in the overhead bin—and out of your sight.\n*   **Lock up important documents.** Unless you need them, keep your passport and other documents locked in your hotel safe. Consider keeping a second wallet that includes copies of each person's passport, a list of credit card numbers and phone numbers of credit card issuers, and some extra cash locked in the safe. That way if your real wallet or purse goes missing, you can contact authorities and put a hold on your credit cards.\n*   **Avoid ATMs in remote locations.** These devices may have skimmers attached or cameras watching your withdrawal. While it can be impossible to avoid ATM machines on vacation, especially if you're on a long trip, use them sparingly and try to only use machines connected to a major bank.\n*   **Limit your social media activity.** Don't share pictures of your trip or tag your travel itinerary on social media while you're away. It advertises that you have an empty house and it allows fraudsters to track your movements. (If traveling in a group, ask your companions to not tag you in their pictures or outings.)\n*   **Verify every personal inquiry.** The front desk at the hotel will not call your room asking for your credit card number, for example, but if you aren't sure, hang up and call the front desk yourself before giving out any personal or financial information. END