Identity Theft is a growing global problem. People who lead a Global Lifestyle are easy prey. Here are some tips to prevent Identity Theft when Living and Traveling Abroad.
1. Clean out your wallet before moving #overseas – Keep only essential items for your new life abroad (will you really need your U.S. library card and Staples loyalty card in #France?). Keep items like your original U.S. Social Security card and birth certificate in a separate, secure location.⠀
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2. Manage your Wi-Fi usage. Get in the habit of disabling Wi-Fi when not in use. Ensure that you are always connecting to the correct network. Always, always use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A #VPN encrypts and hides traffic between you and the VPN server. Download your VPN pre-departure and test as some countries block access to VPNs and you may have trouble accessing once you arrive. ⠀
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3. Order your U.S. #credit report every year. U.S. citizens are entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the three credit bureaus by going to bit.ly/MlD2xO. If you are a foreign national and have lived and worked in the U.S., and have a U.S. Social Security number, you could possibly have a U.S. credit file.⠀
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4. Identity Theft for #children is also a growing concern. Guard access to your child’s U.S. Social Security number and identity just as vigorously as you guard your own. ⠀
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5. If you experience Identity Theft in a foreign country, inquire at the local police department about filing a police report, also consider going to your Embassy or Consulate to see if there are extra security steps you can take. You can also file a complaint with econsumer.gov, a site developed by a consortium of consumer protection agencies around the world, which tracks different types of international scams.⠀
