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This post was sponsored by Capital One Canada, but views and opinions are that of the author and Travel & Style Magazine.
Have you ever been in this situation before? You’re on vacation, having the best time, but when you go to use your bank card or credit card, it’s declined. It could be a minor error, or it could be something much more serious, like fraud. I’ve been there—a few times. Money issues while travelling can cause major anxiety and stress. Since March is Fraud Prevention Month, this is the perfect time to get up to speed on how you can protect yourself from potential fraud, no matter where you are in the world. An identity theft and fraud can be avoided if you follow some safety precautions, according to Capital One Canada.
According to a survey conducted by Capital One Canada, less than half of Canadians take some of the recommended steps to protect themselves against identity theft, which can pose a big problem when travelling. And while most people know (71%) how identity theft can affect their credit score, only 53% of Canadians take steps to help prevent fraud.
When you’re travelling, it can be harder than usual to keep track of your money, credit card spending and your accounts. People tend to spend more freely while on vacation—new places, new vibes, eating and drinking more, and shopping. There are so many ways to spend money while travelling, and you may not think to check in on your accounts in between beach time, leisurely lunches, shopping and sightseeing.
But it’s incredibly important to always know your money situation, no matter where you are in the world. One way to make your vacation life a bit easier (and not have to worry about constantly checking in on your credit) is by using a credit monitoring tool like Credit Keeper* from Capital One (available to select Capital One customers), to keep track of changes. Credit Keeper gives weekly updates on your credit score, so you’re always in the know of how healthy your credit is. It’s one way to make sure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible (read up on some more tips on how to protect yourself from fraud here). If you do see suspicious activity on your card, or happen to misplace your cards/wallet while away (which is always a real possibility), make sure you contact your credit card issuer as soon as possible to report it. You can put a fraud alert on your credit file to make sure that the fraud is stopped before more theft happens.
The more you plan and the more aware you are about fraud protection, the less stress you’ll have on your trip. Because when you’re on vacation, you truly do deserve to relax… and have peace of mind that all is good with your finances while sipping margaritas poolside.
*Credit Keeper is a service offered by Capital One Canada and is powered by credit history and score information provided by TransUnion. Availability may vary depending on the ability to verify your identity and obtain your information from TransUnion. The credit score provided by Credit Keeper is intended for your educational use only. Lenders and other commercial users may use a different type of credit score and other information when making credit decisions. Currently, Credit Keeper isn’t available for Capital One customers who live in the province of Quebec, or who have a Capital One Mastercard exclusively for Costco members.
