The Gull's Call - Jul/Aug/Sep 2026

CommunityNews Volunteer Identity Theft Doesn't Take a Vacation. Here's How to Protect Yourself. June blog post featured on harborbay.org S UMMER IS A SEASON FOR ROAD TRIPS, AMUSEMENT parks, beach visits, and taking it easy. But while you’re taking a break, identity thieves aren’t. And they know that when routines change, security habits often slip. Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank information, credit card number, or online login, without your permission. While no one can prevent it completely because data breaches and scams are now part of modern life’s charming tech tradeoffs, but you can make yourself a much harder target. And why would thieves go hard when there are so many easy opportunities for the taking? 9 Ways To Minimize The Potential For Identity Theft Start with your mail. Before leaving town, pause mail delivery or ask a trusted neighbor to collect it. A mailbox can include bank statements, medical notices, insurance information, credit card offers, or other pieces of your life that don’t belong in anyone else’s hands. Also, avoid leaving outgoing mail with checks or personal information sitting in an unlocked mailbox for pickup when you leave.

with only what you need. If your wallet is lost or stolen, fewer cards mean fewer calls, fewer freezes, and fewer headaches when you’d rather be finding the best local taco place. Since we’re talking about holds and cancellations, make sure you have your credit card info and customer service lines for each card you’re bringing with you. Although this takes a few minutes, you’ll appreciate your extra efforts if your wallet is no longer in your possession. Most credit cards also allow you to communicate that you’re traveling either online or through customer service. This will keep your account from being flagged for fraud and alert the credit card company if something unusual posts. Improve your online habits. Use strong, unique passwords for financial accounts, email, shopping sites, and travel apps. If one account is compromised (and we seem to get these alerts monthly these days), reused passwords can turn a problem with one site into a full blown catastrophe impacting all your accounts. Turn on multi-factor authentication whenever possible, especially for email, banking, credit card, and cell phone accounts. Your email’s often the front door to password resets, so treat it like the house key it is. Skip public Wi-Fi. We know it’s convenient and cuts down on data charges but be careful with public Wi-Fi while traveling. Airport, hotel, café, and rental property networks should be saved for movies, sharing pics, and listening to music, not accessing banking apps or sensitive accounts. If you must access those types of critical accounts, use a secure connection. Better yet, use your cellular data for anything financial. Also watch for look-alike Wi-Fi networks with names that seem close to the hotel or airport’s network. Scammers are very good at making fake things look almost real. Freeze your credit. Credit protection is one of the strongest steps you can take. A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report, making it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. The Federal Trade Commission notes that credit freezes are free to place and lift, but you must contact each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A fraud alert is another free option that tells creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit. Watch your accounts. Even though you’re enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation, you don’t want your

Pare down. Before a trip, look through your wallet. Remove extra credit cards, your Social Security card, Medicare card if it’s not needed, old receipts, and anything else that would make a thief’s day easier. Travel

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