Vacation Security

Security Doesn’t Take a Vacation:

Protecting Your Information While Traveling

Summer is here, and for many of us that means vacations, road trips, and time away from our normal routines. While you’re busy planning adventures and making memories, fraudsters are looking for opportunities to take advantage of distracted travelers.

Whether you’re heading to the beach, exploring a new city, or traveling internationally, taking a few extra precautions can help keep your personal and financial information safe.

Use Caution with Public Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi can be found almost everywhere these days, including airports, hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops. Unfortunately, public networks can make it easier for criminals to intercept sensitive information.

Avoid accessing online banking, shopping sites, or other accounts containing personal information while connected to public Wi-Fi. If you need to access sensitive accounts, consider using your mobile data connection or a trusted VPN.

Turn On Account Alerts

Account alerts are one of the easiest ways to stay informed about activity on your accounts. Transaction alerts can notify you of purchases, withdrawals, login attempts, and other account activity in real time.

Before traveling, make sure your alerts are enabled and that your bank has your current contact information.

Notify Your Bank of Your Travel Plans

Nothing can put a damper on a vacation faster than having a legitimate card transaction declined. If you’ll be traveling, especially internationally, consider notifying your financial institution before you leave.

Travel notifications can help your bank better recognize legitimate activity and may reduce the likelihood of interruptions when using your cards. It’s also a good idea to carry a backup payment method in case a card is lost, stolen, or unavailable.

Secure Your Devices

Your phone, tablet, and laptop contain a significant amount of personal information. Protect your devices with strong passwords, PINs, fingerprint authentication, or facial recognition whenever available.

Before your trip, ensure your devices are updated with the latest software and security updates.

Be Mindful of What You Share Online

Posting vacation photos and updates can be fun, but sharing your location in real time can also let others know you’re away from home.

Consider waiting until you return to post detailed travel updates, especially if your social media accounts are public.

Watch for Travel Scams

Travel scams often increase during the summer months. Fraudsters may create fake travel websites, vacation rental listings, or deeply discounted offers designed to steal your money or personal information.

Before booking, verify that you’re using legitimate websites and research accommodations and travel providers carefully.

Protect Important Documents

Keep passports, identification cards, boarding passes, and payment cards in a secure location. Consider making copies of important documents and storing them separately from the originals.

Having backup copies can make recovery easier if documents are lost or stolen while traveling.

Monitor Your Accounts While You’re Away

Take a few moments throughout your trip to review your account activity. The sooner unauthorized transactions are identified, the sooner they can be reported and addressed.

If you notice suspicious activity, contact your financial institution immediately.

Travel Smart This Summer

A little preparation can go a long way toward protecting your personal and financial information while traveling. By staying aware of potential risks and taking proactive security measures, you can spend less time worrying about fraud and more time enjoying your trip.

Remember: Security doesn’t take a vacation—and neither should your vigilance. Safe travels! ✈️🔒🌴