Graduation season and summer travel tend to show up at the same time, and both come with a lot of excitement and a lot of distractions. That’s exactly when people slip up with their personal information without realizing it. A few simple habits can make a big difference in keeping your identity safe while you’re celebrating or heading out on the road. Don’t let identity thieves ruin your summer plans. Before you pack, post, or travel, review these guidelines to help protect your identity against scammers and identity thieves.
Be careful what you share online
It’s easy to overshare without meaning to. Posting your graduation date, your new school or employer, or your travel plans gives scammers more information than you think. Be mindful of what you share on social media. Sharing details like birthdays, travel plans, or even pet names can give scammers the clues they need to guess passwords or impersonate you. A few extra seconds of caution can help protect your accounts and your identity. Even a photo of a boarding pass can expose details someone can use to get into your accounts. Share the moment, not the specifics.
Avoid logging into sensitive accounts on public Wi‑Fi
Airports, hotels, and coffee shops are convenient, but the Wi‑Fi is often wide open. Open networks are convenient, but they’re also easier for criminals to intercept. Anyone on the same network can try to snoop. If you need to check something important (banking, email, anything with personal information), use your phone’s hotspot or wait until you’re on a secure connection.
Keep your devices locked down
Travel days can be chaotic. Phones get left on seats, laptops get forgotten at security, and backpacks get unzipped without anyone noticing. A strong passcode, a biometric (face or fingerprint) lock, and “find my device” turned on can save you a lot of stress if something goes missing.
Watch out for “urgent” messages
Graduates get hit with fake job offers, scholarship scams, and “you’ve won a prize” emails. Travelers get fake airline alerts, fake hotel confirmations, and fake texts about “suspicious activity.” If a message pressures you to “act now” or “click immediately,” or threatens that your account will be closed or reservation will be cancelled, pause and take a moment before you take action. Go directly to the official website or app instead of engaging with these “urgent” messages. And remember, SESLOC Credit Union will never pressure you with “urgent” messages demanding immediate action.
Don’t carry every document with you
When you’re traveling or moving around for graduation events, leave things like your Social Security card, passport (unless you need it), and birth certificate at home. The fewer important documents you have on you, the less you can lose.
Shred anything with personal details
Graduation season often brings a pile of mail filled with offers, forms, statements, and random “welcome” packets. As you evaluate what to keep and what to discard, remember that anything with your name, address, school, or financial information should be shredded before you add it to the recycling or trash can. It sounds small, but dumpster diving for personal information is still a thing.
Use strong, unique passwords
If you’re heading off to college, starting a new job, or traveling, you’re probably creating new accounts. Use passwords that are long, unique, and hard to guess; think of a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols rather than personal details like birthdays or names. At the same time, avoid recycling the same password across multiple accounts. Taking a few minutes to strengthen your passwords today can help protect your accounts from fraud tomorrow.
Check your accounts regularly
A quick weekly look at your bank accounts, credit card activity, and email security settings can help you catch something early. Many times, identity theft starts with tiny, easy‑to‑miss charges. Reviewing your accounts on a routine basis is one of the strongest defenses against identity theft. Spotting unfamiliar charges or changes early allows you to act quickly and limit potential damage.
Be mindful with travel documents
Don’t leave boarding passes, hotel key sleeves, or rental car paperwork lying around. They often contain barcodes or account numbers that can be scanned or photographed. Lost or stolen travel documents can give fraudsters the information they need to open accounts or impersonate you, so a little extra care can go a long way to help protect your identity.
Celebrations and travel should feel fun, not stressful. A few small habits can help you keep your identity safe while you enjoy the moment. But even when you do everything right, identity theft can still strike. If you suspect you’re a victim, contact us immediately by calling our Contact Center at (805) 543-1816, or send a Secure Message in Online Banking – we’re here to help you. And with your SESLOC HomeFREE Checking account, you have access to a professional, certified Identity Theft Recovery Advocate1 who can work with you one-on-one to identify and resolve identity theft or fraud and return your identity and your accounts to pre-event status.