When all else is lost, we can always say that our name or our identity is one precious possession that no one can take away. But in this day and age of information technology, even that can be stolen.

So, what’s in a name?

When all else is lost, we can always say that our name or our identity is one precious possession that no one can take away. But in this day and age of information technology, even that can be stolen. The risk of identity theft is even higher when you travel. Fortunately, you can count on identity theft travel insurance to protect you in the event of such an occurrence.

Here are some things that will hopefully convince you to get this type of insurance.

When you travel, the risk of identity theft is high because you are new to the place and you are unfamiliar with the schemes of criminals there. You are more likely to be victimized or defrauded by these criminals.
 
Identity theft can occur when you reveal too much, albeit unnecessary, information to strangers. It can also happen when you make your personal information available for public consumption.

Most of the time, identity theft includes information obtained from your personal documents or records such as your driver’s license, visa, passport or birth certificate. The information found in these documents may give a thief access to your credit card or bank accounts. When that happens, the thief can make fraudulent withdrawals from or charges to your account. Unfortunately, you may only learn of the theft when you get back home and it may be too late by then.

Initially, you can reduce the risk of identity theft by notifying your bank or credit card company that you are taking a trip. Most companies have fraud alert systems to notify you of suspected fraudulent activities in your account.

You can further reduce the risk of identity theft by bringing only one credit card when you travel. If you have several cards and you bring all of them when you are on a trip, you will likely lose all of them in case of theft. It would be such a nightmare to contact several credit card companies overseas to have your card cancelled and to report that your card was stolen.

Do not leave your important personal belongings in your hotel. Always bear in mind that some hotel employees, like those in charge of housekeeping, have the key and access to your room. While they may not take your personal belongings or documents, they may sneak a peek on your records and copy your personal information. You should keep these important documents in the hotel safe or bring them wherever you go.

Unfortunately, these precautions may not suffice as you may still be a victim of identity theft. Thus, it is really essential that you take identity theft insurance to protect you against such occurrences.

Identity theft insurance usually forms part of your travel insurance.

With this type of insurance, you can claim compensation from your insurance company in case of identity theft while you are traveling. This can cover the amount you lost due to fraudulent withdrawals or charges.

Apart from protecting you against identity theft, travel insurance can also compensate you for loss or delays, cancellations, evacuations or medical expenses. You may likewise get life insurance, rental car collision insurance and hazardous sports coverage in your travel insurance policy.