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Dear Snowbirds,
We all envy you. Is there any way you can fit us in your suitcase? No? Okay, we tried.
But even if we can’t join you, we do want to let you know about a few tips to keep you safe and secure during your travels.
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- Stop your mail
As a snowbird, you leave your home for weeks or months at a time in an attempt to get some much-needed rest and relaxation while simultaneously escaping Old Man Winter. That being said, you should familiarize yourself with Canada Post’s “Hold My Mail” service. Using the service temporarily stops your mail from being delivered to your address. Instead your mail will be safely stored at a Canada post facility until you return from your getaway. Now you won’t have to rely on neighbours, friends, or family to stop by the house every day to empty the mailbox to:
A) keep your mailbox from overflowing and looking like you aren’t home
B) keep identity thieves from picking up your personal information
- Don’t leave your personal information lying around
Speaking of neighbours, family, and friends – it isn’t uncommon for anyone who travels to ask the people in our lives to check on the house. Whether it is to pick up the mail (check – Canada Post is the solution), water the plants, or feed the cat, it is still important to keep your sensitive information away from prying eyes.
Oftentimes, we think of identity thieves as some stranger who is out to get us. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. In fact, 43 per cent of people know the thief personally. So, in an effort to keep yourself as safe as possible, lock up all your personal documents before you leave. For everything else that is no longer useful (i.e. old bills, receipts, etc.), be sure to shred it.
- Keep your travel docs safe
Ah, vacation. There really is nothing like it, is there? Though, no matter how much you are enjoying yourself, you should never assume that your personal safety is on vacation, too. Of course, there are many safety tips that come to mind when travelling, but, for us, our main concern is your identity. Keep in mind that identity theft can happen anywhere. Yes, anywhere. Always consider what you can do to keep your personal information safe. For example:
- Clear out your wallet before you leave – only take what is necessary
- Call your credit card company to let them know you are travelling
- Use the hotel or condo safe to keep documents like your passport secure during your stay
Stay safe, Snowbird!
Your friendly neighbourhood shredding company,
First Stop Services
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