If you’re planning a vacation this summer, you’ve probably been told that it’s a good idea to put your mail on hold – especially if it comes to an unlocked mailbox where thieves can easily get a hold of it. However, you may want to think twice about doing so, and maybe have a neighbor pick it up instead. If not, you could become a victim of identity theft, like some residents of Maryland were in the past few years.
According to the Washington Post, Lawrence I. Green and his accomplices admitted to stealing the identities of 50 victims in Maryland and Washington, DC. They used fake identification to retrieve mail from the post office after putting their victims’ mail on hold. This allowed them to get access to their financial statements and to withdraw money from their bank accounts. If an identity thief notices that you are going on vacation; for example if you post about your plans on a social networking site, it’s likely he or she will be able to pull off the same thing, unless there is someone around to notice that your mail is not showing up like it should be.
Barring that, or in addition to it, you should look into identity theft protection. It’s a good way to be alerted to bogus accounts and address changes that you may not notice on your own. It’s especially helpful for you if you travel extensively and you don’t have the time to keep a close watch on your finances. It is a good idea for everyone, though. If nothing else, it will give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy a worry free vacation.
Identity thieves operate all the time. They don’t care if you are trying to enjoy yourself and not keep track of day-to-day goings on with your accounts. It’s a good thing to have a plan that can take care of all of that legwork for you.