During Traveling:

• Don't leave important documents in your car. Very often people leave their important documents in the car thinking that the documents are safe. Your documents will be as safe as your car might be.
• ATM / Debit Cards & Credit Cards. Consider restricting the use of your ATM card to securely located Automated Teller Machines. Fake ATM machines are known to have been placed in high traffic tourist areas. Debit cards also provide thieves with a direct pipeline to your bank accounts. When used with a PIN, you need not sign for the purchase. When used for a “credit” purchase with a signature, no confirming PIN is needed.
• Use credit cards while traveling. Only credit cards are protected by federal law as to the amount of money that you are responsible for if lost or stolen, and most companies now extend a zero liability policy to customers. 
• Never leave your personal documents unsecured in the hotel rooms. This rule specially applies to global travel security where certain passports may be valuable. Lock up all valuables in room safes or hotel safes while you are out of your room. That includes laptops, PDA's, jewelry, passports, and other documents that contain personal identifying information or that would be of interest to a thief. A suitcase is not a secure way to lock up information.
• Beware of pickpockets. While pickpocketing has been on the decline in the U.S for the past fifty years or so, it’s still a major problem in Europe.  Pickpockets often work in groups, are often children and are typically well-dressed.  Be extra vigilant around tourist attractions, public transportation, restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies.
• Carry valuables safely. Your valuables and identification are a mere swipe away from a purse snatcher or pickpocket. Money belts kept under clothing are the safest. For stowing cash, credit cards and identification, inside pockets and sturdy shoulder bags with straps across the chest are much better than handbags, fanny packs or outside pockets.  Vacation travelers should use fanny packs or travel pouches that are worn inside your shirt to carry important documents. Business travelers should be aware that pickpockets are also looking for laptops and PDA's that are temporarily out of your control- at airports, in lobbies and in dining areas.
• Shoulder surfers. Besides pickpockets, identity thieves take advantage of people via shoulder surfing. "Shoulder Surfing" used to only apply to those who looked "over your shoulder" to see information. With the common use of cell phones, it is important to remember that you are in a public venue and may talk about things that a thief can use.
• Back-up material: Carry photocopies of all travel documents including plane tickets, hotel reservations and passports. Keep these in a separate location from the originals.
• Public restrooms. Ladies, do not hang your purse from a hook on the door. It is too easy for someone to reach over the top of the door and take it before you have time to react. The best place to store your purse while in the restroom is beside you or hung around your body.
• Don't place valuable information on computers. unless you secure that computer like you secure your ID card or driver's license. More often than not, sensitive information is placed on laptops which are carried around to public areas like restaurants, pools and bars without any regard for travel security risks. Individuals and businesses need to understand the identity theft risks associated with taking laptops containing sensitive information with them when they travel and develop policies and procedures to properly address the security of their information.
• Take the copies. Carry photocopies instead of the originals when necessary and possible. For example, copies of passports are not acceptable forms of identification; however, copies of birth certificates may be in some cases when presented with other original documents. So, it is not necessary to carry all originals all the time.
• Beware of your surroundings. when using your secret codes to access cash at ATMs, use your debit card at stores where you have to enter a PIN, access your personal or business laptop computer in public areas like airports, send e-mails, or access your voicemails, beware of your surroundings and the eyes looking over your shoulders. Cover your hand when typing the secret code. Don't be embarrassed as we all might get sometimes when we try hard to be secretive. It's better to be safe than sorry. After all, you are your own true travel security agent. Read about access code exposure.
• Be prepared to deal with a lost or stolen passport case. know what to do immediately in case of stolen or lost passport during your trips or at home to prevent identity theft. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Assuming you may lose your passport or other travel and personal information during a trip, be prepared and have a plan 'B' to notify and get passport replacement in order to move on with your travel arrangements. Copies of your birth certificate and passport or phone numbers of your credit card companies come in very handy when you need them, especially, if you're out of town and lose your credit card or passport. So, be prepared and have a contingency plan for any personal document loss, as part of your overall travel security plans.
• Don't check-in your personal documentation. never place your personal and travel documents in a luggage which you intend to check-in at the airports. Once you do that, you have just lost control over security of your personal documents.
• Avoid identity theft when you visit the gym. If you think your personal items are safe at your favorite gym and health club while you work out, think again. Protect your personal belongings while you work out at the gym.
• Watch your belongings on the plane. To ensure travel security by air, always place your personal belongings in an overhead compartment on the opposite side of the aisle you are seating. This way, you can detect any unauthorized search and theft of your personal items during the flight. In any full flight, people reorganize the overhead compartments to make room for their own items and someone may go through your items or even steal your items while pretending to be looking for extra space.
• Travel with your items in the security chain. When you go through the travel security checks at the airports, make sure your items don't travel in the x-ray machine faster than you go through your body scan as they may be vulnerable to theft at the end of the scan process if you encounter delays in your own body scan process. Make sure you send your family members through the scans first and submit your valuable personal items right when you're ready to go through the scans yourself.
• Take caution with public computers and Wi-Fi. If possible, avoid using public computers to access anything sensitive, such as conducting online banking, making purchases, or accessing email accounts. These computers could potentially have malware that is designed to capture the information you have entered. Avoid these same activities when using a public Wi-Fi connection as the information can easily be captured by criminals on the same connection. Make sure to use an encrypted Internet connection whenever you go online.
• Be aware of social media updates. We all like to share photos online with our family and friends as we are traveling. However, when you tell people where you are, you are also telling them where you are not – at home.

Using Cards When Traveling:

• Let your credit card company and bank know about your trip. If a credit card company or your bank starts seeing purchases overseas, they may flag your card as fraud and freeze your account. This is great if your card had actually been stolen, but less great when you’re traveling and your means of paying for things gets cut off. Let them know the locations you are traveling to and the dates of this trip so they do not freeze your card. They should note this in your account so there are no issues.
• ATMs & point of sale machines.  Advances in technology have seen credit card skimming and shimming technology become more sophisticated and widespread. Any machine that looks tampered with or altered in any way should be treated as suspect, and you should seek an alternative ATM.
• Always carry back-up cash. There’s a good chance you’ll encounter places that only accept cash. Also, credit and debit cards aren’t as reliable as you would hope. An ATM can eat your card, credit card machines can be down, or you can run into other problems using your card.
• Ask if there’s a fee to charge. Some places charge a hefty fee for not paying with cash, so double check anywhere you go. Some credit cards charge an additional few percentage points of the transaction as a foreign currency transaction fee.
• Transfer extra funds to a savings account. If you’re bringing your debit card, only have the money in your account you will need for the trip and a little extra for emergencies. Transfer any excess to a savings account. This way if your card is stolen, the thieves can’t wipe out your entire account.

Cards

• Check if your card is accepted. Choose a U.S. credit card that’s widely accepted abroad. Generally, this means taking a Visa or MasterCard rather than Amex or Discover. Call your credit card company to find out how widely its accepted overseas and what fees you may be charged for purchases in foreign currencies.
• Know your credit limit. It’s not uncommon to accidentally to go over your credit limit – especially if you’re travelling for weeks at a time. At home, going over limit may be an inconvenience or incur a small fee, in different countries where credit cards are not as widely used, this may be seen in a harsher light. U.S. State Department websites vaguely suggest that Americans have been arrested for “innocently exceeding their credit limit while traveling abroad.” That’s probably an unusual situation, but one in which you certainly don’t want to find yourself.
• Write down the international customer service number for your card(s). The usual 800 number for customer service won’t work abroad so find out the international number where you can reach them if your card is stolen, lost, or you encounter any other issues. Store it in your phone, e-mail it to yourself, or write it on a piece of paper you’ll keep with important documents.
• Make copies of your cards. Make a copy of the fronts and backs of your credit and debit cards. This way if you’re cards are stolen, you can report it to the local police and the U.S. Embassy.
• Emergency Hotline & Funds.  Keep a separate note that contains the emergency hotline contact details of your card issuer.  Keep this information separate from your actual card and in another location that could be easily stolen. You might also want to get a backup card, which could be another credit card or a prepaid debit card loaded with a certain amount of funds and tied to your bank account.  Again, carry and store these cards separately from your main card at all times.
• Limit your cards. You don’t need to take your entire wallet and all of your credit cards. This will just make the situation worse if your bag gets lost or stolen. Choose the best credit card for your travels, and bring one or two.
• Be aware of what’s covered by your credit card. You may be pleased to find out your credit card may offer a form of travel insurance for anything you charge on the card. For example, if you charge a rental car with your card, you can be insured for any damages. Call your credit card company to see what’s covered abroad.
• Protect your cards. Carry your cards in a safe way, like a money belt that wraps around your body or a purse that wraps across your chest. Wallets and purses around a shoulder can be targets, and a backpack can be easily looked through while you’re not paying attention. When you’re putting in your PIN, cover it. Someone can be looking over your shoulder to attempt to steal it.
• Keep track of your card. Don’t let your card out of your sight. It’s not uncommon for merchants abroad to double swipe or take it in the back to copy information down. And of course, always make sure you get your card back before you leave.
• Track your purchases. Keep a receipt for your purchases. Check your statements regularly while you’re still traveling. If you have any charges that shouldn’t be there, call your credit card immediately because time is a factor.
• Act fast if your card is stolen. If your card is missing, contact your credit card company, the local police, and the U.S. Embassy. When you’re home, you can contact the IRS Identity Protection Unit to report any stolen credit and debit cards as a first step in mitigating potential harmful effects of identity theft.

Wif-Fi & Mobile

• Wi-Fi safety.  There are a few possible ways to avoid fake Wi-Fi connections. First, ask an employee which one is correct. In most cases, it will be an encrypted signal, especially at a hotel or airport.  Second, you simply encrypt all of the data going in and out, even on an unsecured connection. For this, you will want a VPN, or Virtual Private Network. While there are many services you can pay to use, there are free VPNs, such as Opera, a browser much like Chrome or Firefox.  Incognito mode or Private Browsing can also help, as will sticking to sites that use “https.”
• Smart phone.  If you are checking anything sensitive on your smart phone, it may be better to turn off wifi and just use data, especially if you are checking your bank statement to see if there are any errant charges.

People

• Helpful strangers.  Be on your guard, and don’t place too much trust in overly-helpful stranger that wants to help with money, banking, or ATMs. 
• The fake front desk call.  Fraudsters can impersonate the front desk at your hotel asking for your credit card information. Always hang up and call the front desk to verify.
• Beware of pickpockets. While pickpocketing has been on the decline in the U.S for the past fifty years or so, it’s still a major problem in Europe. Pickpockets often work in groups, are often children and are typically well-dressed and they may have an accomplice.  Be extra vigilant around tourist attractions, public transportation, restaurants, bars and hotel lobbies.  Be wary of anyone trying to get your attention for anything, from showing you a map or menu to dropping an item.  Your best bet is to keep your money and cards in a money belt that goes inside your pants. It’s hard not to notice someone trying to steal from there.  It is easy for a pickpocket to cut into or rifle through your backpack.