With many Britons excitedly working their way through their summer holiday check lists, Experian has some helpful tips for something many may not yet have considered – protecting your identity this summer.
In the same way you take a few simple steps to protect yourself from the sun, these easy-to-remember tips can help protect you and your family from identity theft, which can result in a nasty holiday hangover if your information gets into the wrong hands.
Pack light
Handbags and wallets often contain lots of items containing personally-identifiable information that you won’t need on holidays. These could prove to be a goldmine for fraudsters, so do a clear-out of your handbag and wallet, removing items such as bills, receipts, out-of-date driving licences and medical prescriptions.
Stay in the shade
Don’t expose your information unnecessarily. Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi networks and public computers if you are doing anything which requires you to share passwords or financial information. If you have no other option, remember to check these sites are encrypted (indicated by a padlock symbol and the letters “https:”). Always log out after use.
Apply sunscreen regularly
Regularly updating the antivirus and firewalls for your devices is the most simple form of protection. However, as with sunscreen, many of us forget to effectively reapply. These types of software are updated regularly with patches for specific bugs, so by not updating your software, you run the risk of having gaps in your protection.
Don’t get burnt
Identity fraudsters operate to make money and so one of the first ways you can spot fraudulent activity is by closely monitoring your credit report. If you spot any unusual activity and suspect that it may be an indication of identity theft, you can contact the Experian Victims of Fraud team who will appoint a dedicated case-worker to investigate and, if necessary, resolve any fraudulent activity not only to protect your bank balance, but also your credit rating.
Last modified: December 25, 2020
