How To Protect Your Identity While Travelling

Staying Safe
Identity Protection Overseas

By: Alex - Travel Writer

Identity theft and credit card fraud are two of the most common scams travellers experience overseas.

Thieves often single out tourists from western countries like the United States, United Kingdom and Australia as wealthy targets to pickpocket. Once they’ve relieved you of your wallet, phone or passport, you’re then at greater risk of having your identity stolen or falling victim to fraud.

There are a few simple steps you can take before you leave, during your travels and after you return home to minimise your risks.

A good place to start is understanding what the different terms mean.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft is the criminal use of another person’s identity. The goal is usually either to steal directly from the victim, or use the stolen identity to obtain other financial benefits such as:

Accessing your bank or financial accounts.
Applying for new credit cards or bank accounts in your name.
Racking up debts or obtaining a personal loan in your name.
Applying for fake identification documents such as passports and licences in your name.
Registering a vehicle intended for criminal use.
Applying for a mobile phone contract or other services in your name.
Applying for housing or rental tenancies in your name.

Passport fraud is a type of identity theft where the goal is to sell or replicate your passport. It can then be used in criminal activities like drug trafficking, people smuggling or even terrorism.

Fast Fact

9.4% of Australians reported the misuse of their personal information in the previous 12 months. Source: ID Care

What is credit card fraud?

Credit card fraud is also closely linked to identity theft, and one of the most common scams you can experience both at home and overseas. The methods vary widely, but the goal is essentially to steal your credit card details to make fraudulent purchases.

Fraudsters have a range of different tricks up their sleeve, from phony telemarketing calls and phishing emails, to skimming devices, to the outright theft of your physical card.

5 tips to protect yourself from identity theft before you travel

Identity theft can happen at any stage of travel, but being aware of the risks and taking steps to avoid them is the best way to protect yourself and your identity before you even leave home.

There are a few simple precautions you can take to minimise your risk of identity theft before you head overseas on holiday:

1) Clean out your wallet

Don’t travel with unnecessary identifying information such as photo identification, paperwork or credit cards. Clear out your wallet and leave everything you won’t need at home.

2) Make copies

Make digital copies of your travel documents (passport, Visa, insurance certificate, etc.) and email these to yourself, or leave a hard copy with a trusted friend or family member who you can contact from overseas. If you do have anything stolen, at least you’ll have all the information on hand to act quickly and organise replacement documents.

3) Create a temporary travel email account

Create a free email address to use while you’re overseas. If a hacker gets into your real private or work email account they can do a lot of damage.

4) Use travel cash cards

Consider using travel cards that can be pre-loaded with foreign currency. Not only can you lock in the current exchange rate and avoid bank conversion fees, but they can be used just like a normal Visa credit card.

You can also register your travel card online. That way if it is stolen, you can easily deactivate the card, retrieve the stored funds, and the thieves won’t have access to your identity or linked bank accounts.

5) Purchase travel insurance

Buy travel insurance before your trip that covers lost or stolen travel documents, credit cards and theft of cash.

Some policies may also provide additional cover for travel delays, missed connections, and emergency accommodation and food expenses in case you’re held up because of lost or stolen documents.

4 tips to protect yourself from identity theft while travelling

You're at the highest risk of identity theft and fraud while you're travelling overseas. It's easy to let your guard down when you're having a wonderful time, and experienced identity thieves and scammers are very good at what they do.

Here are some simple precautions you can take to minimise the risk of identity theft while travelling overseas:

1) Beware of public wifi networks

Never enter sensitive information such as usernames, passwords or personal details on websites while connected to public wifi networks or ‘hotspots’.

These may be intentionally set up with inconspicuous names in locations that tourists are known to frequent such as airports, cafes, fast food chains and hotels in order to steal your information.

2) Protect your phone

Make sure your phone is password or fingerprint protected and manually log out of any social network apps, email accounts and banking apps that keep you automatically logged in. Phone theft is very common overseas and potentially gives thieves access to a wealth of personal information.

3) Store your documents securely

Use the hotel safe to securely store your travel documents and valuables. Never leave them unsupervised in public or lying around in your room while you’re not there.

4) Act quickly

If your phone, passport or other important travel documentation is stolen or goes missing, inform the local police, your bank and your country’s Embassy or Consulate immediately.

What happens if my passport is stolen overseas?

If your passport is stolen or goes missing, follow these steps:

Contact your travel insurer who can direct you to the nearest Embassy or Consulate and assist you with making a claim.
If you don’t have travel insurance, contact your local Government Embassy or Consulate They can invalidate your passport so that no one else can use it for travel. Alternatively, you can also report a lost or stolen passport online.
File a police report. You’ll need to submit this with your travel insurance claim.
Apply for replacement passport. It will help speed up the process if you can access a digital copy of your passport and travel documents. A new passport can usually be issued within 24 hours.

Your travel insurer may be able to assist with the cost of replacing your travel documents, as well as providing an allowance for accommodation and food expenses while you wait out the delay.

Depending on your policy type, you may also have cover for alternative transport expenses under your travel insurance if you miss a scheduled flight or other mode of transport due to a lost or stolen passport.