Brits fail to add their identity to holiday protection checklist

Brits are failing to take precautions to protect their identity before they go on holiday according to new research from CreditExpert.co.uk, the online credit report monitoring service from Experian. Despite cases of identity fraud reported to Experian increasing by 69 per cent in the last year and empty homes being a prime target for thieves, many Brits are still not taking adequate measures to protect their personal information.

The research, which is based on a survey of over 1,500 UK adults, also reveals:

Men (46 per cent) are more likely than women (36 per cent) to take steps to safeguard their identity

One in six (15 per cent) of Brits admit they’re not sure how to best protect themselves

London residents are the least savvy, with only one in three (34 per cent) taking every step to look after their identity before they go away

Jim Hodgkins, Managing Director of CreditExpert.co.uk, said: “We spend weeks looking forward to our holidays, but many of us leave the most important item off our checklist – our identity. With cases of identity fraud on the rise and empty homes a magnet for identity thieves, it’s important we take adequate precautions. As well as keeping important documents secure, regularly checking your credit report will help you spot any irregularities in your finances and ensure you won’t have any nasty surprises to add to your post-holiday blues.”

Lax attitude

Lack of action seems to be due to a combination of lax attitudes and confusion. Almost one in ten (nine per cent) holidaymakers claim they know the risks, but are willing to take the chance of not becoming a fraud victim and a further nine per cent don’t think they’re likely to become a victim. One in six (15 per cent) Brits admit they’re not sure how to best protect themselves.

Knowledgeable Northerners

People from the North East are the most likely to protect themselves against ID fraud before they go away, with over half (51 per cent) claiming that they take every step possible to keep their personal information safe. Despite London being an ID fraud hotspot, the capital’s residents are the least savvy with only one in three (34 per cent) taking steps to protect themselves and 14 per cent saying they know the risks, but are willing to take a chance.

CreditExpert.co.uk’s Holiday Identity Checklist – Before you leave:

Lock away any documents that a thief might find useful, such as bank and credit card statements.

Arrange for a friend or neighbour to collect your post and keep it safe in your absence (or use the Post Office’s Keepsafe service) – many details of your identity can be taken from documents such as bank statements and bills.

As well as sun cream, pack photocopies of key documents like your passport, cards and driving licence separately from the originals in case they are stolen or lost.

Leave a photocopied set of important documents with friends back home to be extra safe.

Ask a friend, neighbour or family member to ensure your rubbish and recycling bin is emptied by the council and put away afterwards. Thieves often find key documents such as old bank statements in left-out rubbish.

Do not make it public knowledge that you are going away on holiday and that your house will be empty for some time.

While you are away:

Keep your boarding pass, instead of throwing it away, and shred it later.

Keep all of your receipts to shred.

When spending money abroad on your credit or debit card, do not let the card out of your sight.

If you’re travelling abroad, make sure you keep your passport in a secure place, such as the safe in your hotel room.

If you have to carry a wallet or purse with you, secure it in a zipped pocket, or make sure your handbag is zipped or buttoned shut; in busy tourist areas, hold or carry your bag in front of you rather than on your shoulder or as a back pack.

And…when you get home:

Put aside your bills and receipts so that you can check them against your bank and credit card statements, then shred everything you no longer need.

Check your credit report for any significant changes that might be a result of someone having stolen your identity.

Jim Hodgkins continued: “To help you stay in touch with your financial situation, an online credit report monitoring service such as CreditExpert will provide a summary of your credit status and alert you to any changes in your credit report. You can get a free 30-day trial at www.creditexpert.co.uk. Regular monitoring of your credit report after you come back from your holiday will alert you quickly if your personal details were somehow accessed while you were on holiday and later used to steal your identity – and is vital if your handbag or wallet were stolen or went missing for any period.”