Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Find Your Influence and Lifelock. All opinions are my own.
During the summer, travel is at an all time high. Children may be out of school for the summer, family vacations are planned and taken, and if you’re like me there’s new places to explore and discover. Being new to the Northern California area, I have definitely made it a priority to go somewhere new every few weeks. So far we’ve explored around Half Moon Bay, San Jose, Mendocino, and Lake Counties.
We’ve also had a few camping experiences under our belt.
But an area of concern I always have when I travel and explore new areas is identity theft. A few years ago, during a travel vacation, someone retrieved my debit card information from an area gas station. From that time onward I have been more conscious.
And this is where LifeLock is a dream saver. When I had a weekend away to San Jose this past weekend, I had LifeLock protecting me along the way. Meaning that if anything were to happen on my travels, LifeLock would immediately reach out to me because they were monitoring my whereabouts, my credit scores, and of course my accounts while I was away. And if anything happened, they’d instantly send me a text message straight to my phone.
Upon first signing up they will begin monitoring your identity threats right away. One such way they do this? They automatically enrolled me to stop receiving those pre-approved credit card offers. Do you know that’s often a very common way people can instantly take away your identity? The best part was that they did this automatically meaning there was nothing for me to fill out.
They also help to track your credit score so if something seems a bit off they will notify you right away so you can begin working on fixing your credit. You can find more information at the LifeLock site.
A few tips and advice from LifeLock on how to protect yourself before you travel:
*Call Your Bank and Credit Card Companies*
Let them know where you’re going. They can keep an extra eye on your accounts while you’re away and react right away if something seems off.
*Stop Mail*
When away the mail piles out, and it can become noticeable to anyone who just may be watching the neighborhood. Whenever you travel, stop into your post office and have them put a stop on your mail delivery until you return. Just think about those things that come in the mail? 401K Statements, PayStubs, Bank Statements. All things that could easily be taken from you.
*Clean Out Your Wallet*
Bring the bare necessities. The less you have on you, the less information people can take from you.
*Pay Your Bills Before You Leave*
That way you’re not doing it on the go, when you’re out and about. You may think it’s safe in that hotel room, but many many people are in and out of your room throughout your stay. Stay protected.
*Don’t Tell The World You’re Traveling*
Easier said than done especially when living in the social media world, but don’t make that announcement on facebook or twitter. In the end, you just don’t know who may be watching and looking for that perfect opportunity.
You can find more great advice on the LifeLock site to keep you protected.
