Summer is just around the corner and for many that means traveling. Whether you’re planning a once in a lifetime tour of Europe or weekend camping trips, it’s important to be aware of ID Theft before you hit the road. The following tips and tricks will help prevent you from becoming a victim:
- Let Numerica know if you’ll be traveling, especially if you’re leaving the country. Numerica is vigilant about detecting unusual activity on your card. Your card may be blocked if we notice unusual transactions, so avoid the hassles and notify us before you leave home.
- Secure your mail while you’re gone. Stop your mail at the post office before you leave for an extended period of time. Your mail can be a treasure trove for identity theft criminals looking for your personal information.
- Weed out your wallet. Tourist destinations are often a haven for pickpockets, so go through your wallet and take out any unneeded credit cards and personal information before you leave. It’s also good practice to make copies of all of your important documents, such as your passport, driver’s license and health insurance cards.
- Be wary of generic ATMs. It’s becoming a common practice among thieves to install card readers in ATMs to capture your account information and PIN. It’s a safe practice to use your card at ATMs affiliated with Numerica. Look for the Star, CO-OP Network or Cirrus logos.
- Check your accounts regularly for suspicious activity. Spend a few minutes online every day looking at your bank and credit card accounts to ensure every transaction is yours.
- Be careful with hotel computers. Don’t access your accounts or personal information on public hotel computers, which could have software that logs keystrokes and records your passwords and account numbers. And be very careful when using an unsecure wireless network.
- Don’t leave personal information lying around your hotel room. Keep your credit cards and other important information with you or lock them up in the hotel safe.
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Numerica Credit Union
Last year when I vacationed in Mexico, I FORGOT to let Numerica know that I was travelling out of the country. When I checked in at the resort, Numerica would not process the charges. I was grateful that Numerica was watching over my account. A quick call to Numerica on Monday and everything was straightened out…thank goodness the resort was understanding and flexible!