ID Theft and Tax Preparation: Did You Know? Protecting Your Identity in 2008

School's Out, Summer Vacation Is In, and ID Theft Risks Increase
By Mark Pribish, National Director of Sales
Merchants Information Solutions, Inc.

Now that the school year has either ended or is ending for most families across the United States, it might be a good time to think about the growing trend of identity theft.

While there are ways of protecting you and your family from identity theft -- particularly with summer vacation approaching – most individuals and families need to take extra precaution. Unsuspecting families have been targeted by identity thieves for years -- and there are simple and easy steps anyone can take to protect themselves from identity theft.

During the summer season, you can use the following checklist to protect you and your identity – as well as the identity of family members:

1. Newspapers deliveries – should be put on hold and/or designated for charity.

2. US Mail – should be put be on hold and/or arrange for your mail to be collected by a trusted family member, friend or neighbor the entire time you are away.

3. On-Sight House/Apartment visit - ask a trusted family member, friend or neighbor to stop by your house/apartment on a regular basis.

4. Continue using your landscaper, pool, and/or housekeeping services and ask them to pay special attention to the areas in and around your house.

5. When traveling on vacation use just one credit card and one debit card to minimize risk.

6. Keep all of your receipts and reconcile them with your credit and debit card statements when you return home.

7. Do not leave your drivers license or passport at a hotel front desk or with a tour operator as providing either identification number is sufficient.

8. Never leave your identification documents or credit cards in the glove compartment or trunk – especially when valet parking.

9. Use hotel safes and/or room safes to secure valuables while you are outside your hotel room -- as hotels will often insure personal documents and objects if they are somehow stolen when locked in a hotel safe.

10. Secure blackberries/cell phones, laptops, other electronic devices, passports, driver’s licenses, and other documents that may contain personal identifying information that a thief could use.

11. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Pickpockets view vacationers as an easy mark and can swipe your wallet, spending cash and your identity. Pickpockets are prevalent in nearly every major city and tend to target high traffic areas that attract business and vacation travelers.

12. Do not let your debit card out of your sight as unscrupulous waiter/waitresses can swipe your card without your knowledge for the purpose of fraudulent use.

While these are just a few suggestions to protect against ID Theft while on summer vacation, education and awareness are the key to you and your family’s safety along with minimizing potential ID Theft events.