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Identity Theft: Protecting Yourself While you Travel
Carlos
Conejo
These days, every time we fly these days we are asked
for some form of identification. Each time we show a form
of identification, we risk becoming victims of identity
theft.
What
is identity theft?
Identity
theft happens when a person wrongly assumes another person's
identity for financial or other purposes. The identity
thief obtains vital data about his or her victim -- social
security number, credit card account numbers, date and
place of birth, etc. Once the thief acquires enough information,
he or she is able to obtain credit cards, bank accounts,
a driver's license and other financial and legal documents
in the victim's name. Identity thieves buy houses and
cars fraudulently. They get married using their victims'
names. They even are arrested under their victims' names.
The Federal Trade Commission maintains a web site with
information about identity theft.
Identity
theft is the fastest-growing type of theft in the U.S.,
and the fastest-growing consumer crime in the United States,
with stolen credit cards leading the list of complaints
the federal government gets from consumers.
In
the year since it opened an identity theft web site last
February, the Federal Trade Commission says reports of
identity theft have quintupled. More than half the complaints
involve stolen credit cards.
Counselors
at the commission's fraud hot line (1-877-ID-THEFT) say
they are handling 2,000 complaints a week compared to
400 a year ago. The hot line opened in November 1999.
The
Treasury Department estimates the credit-card industry
last year lost more than $2 billion from fraudulent charges,
more than triple the $668 million lost in 1998. Banks
and credit card companies pass those costs to legitimate
users in the form of higher interest rates. (Source: Scripps
Howard News Service)
Places
at the airport where your ID may be requested:
- Baggage
Checkpoints
- Curbside
- Uniformed Sky Caps
- Security
Checkpoints - Uniformed TSA personnel
- Gate
Check-in - Uniformed Airline Personnel
- Ticket
Counter - Uniformed Airline Personnel (Some smaller
airports might have baggage handlers in jumpsuits checking
people in.)
The
rule of thumb for avoiding identify theft at airports
is to check out the photo ID's of those requesting your
ID. Don't show your ID to someone who you suspect might
not be a legitimate airport or airline employee.
Tips
For Avoiding Identity Theft While Traveling
Here are some other tips to keep your identity
safe and confidential.
- Roving
Eyes - Be aware of who might be looking over
your shoulder, especially if you are height-challenged
like me. Some airlines emblazon your name across the
top of your boarding pass. Keep your boarding pass facing
towards you, or facing down where roving eyes can't
sneak a peek.
- Avoid
the Full-Monty Syndrome -
If you use one of those necklace ID that you wear over
the neck, keep the flap facing towards your body. Yes,
it's handy to flash airline personnel easily, but we
need to keep our identity from would-be identity thieves.
I once saw a woman walking through the Denver airport
wearing one of these holders with her ID fully exposed
to the world.
- Counter
the Urge - Don't leave your ID facing up on
any counter. Put it away immediately. Crooks can get
your license number, birth date, even your address if
you make it easy for them to see it. Some airport crooks
are so good they can pick up your telephone calling
card PIN from as far as 50 feet away!
- Go
to that Special Place
- I used to temporarily misplace my license all the
time because I used to stuff it into my pants pocket
one time, my shirt pocket the next, and somewhere else
the next time. I used to go into a panic the next time
I needed to present my license for ID. Now I put it
right back into its dedicated slot in my wallet, and
Viola! It is always there when I need it the next time.
Ladies, you might want to dedicate a special place in
your purse for your ID that is quickly accessible. This
way you do not have to pull out a separate pocketbook.
After removal, make sure to secure your purse immediately.
Leaving your purse open might be a great temptation
for pickpockets and can get your vacation or business
trip off to a horrible start.
Going to your special place with your ID can be especially
useful if you are accompanying children, and older adults,
or a person who might need special assistance. I sometimes
need to find my special place occasionally, when I am
traveling with children.
Unaccompanied children and elderly people might need
to be accompanied or have special needs: If you are
going to assist an unaccompanied child or an older adult
or a person with special need through the security checkpoints
you will need to get a gate pass/authorization at the
airport ticket counter of your airline. Frequent Flyer
Clubs and Lounges may be "off limits" to non-ticketed
passengers when they are located beyond the passenger
security checkpoints. Passengers without tickets should
contact the specific airline to gain access. Access
to security checkpoints is dictated by the airlines.
In
conclusion, make sure that you only show your ID to bonafide
uniformed personnel. No one should be asking you for your
ID in the waiting area or anywhere else. If someone asks
for your ID outside of the typically designated checkpoints
and you suspect a scam. Ask them to show you their picture
ID and to give you the reason for their inquiry. If they
are unable to furnish one or both, get detailed information
and report them to airport security immediately!
Carlos
Conejo is a successful consultant
and speaker who spends much time on the road. Known
as the "Bilingual Dynamo," Carlos Conejo, expert
on the rapidly growing multicultural marketplace,
multicultural marketplace, lean manufacturing and workforce
development delivers powerful and entertaining presentations
in either English or Spanish. For more information on
Carolos Conejo, visit http://www.bigspeak.com/carlos-conejo.html,
call 805-965-1400 or e-mail info@BigSpeak.com.
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