Two Big Risks to be Aware of During the Holiday Season

As Americans get swept up in the excitement of the holidays, it can be easy to lapse on proper precautions and preparedness.

Problems Posed on the Road

As travel spikes during the Holiday season and more people set out to gather with friends and family, overlooked issues arise. Nearly half of Americans are expected to travel this Holiday season¹, with numbers potentially climbing even higher with many skipping travel the last few years.

Due to inflation and high travel costs, roughly 1 in 3 travelers are choosing to drive further distances instead of flying.²

The increase in drivers on the road and distance traveled by each person frequently correspond to more incidents and calls to roadside assistance companies. To be as prepared as possible, here are a few steps you can take:

• Be sure your tire pressure is set to the manufacturer’s specifications
• Check the treads ​​and general wear on your tires, especially in colder climates where inclement weather can be hard to predict and move quickly
• Inspect your windshield wipers and check wiper fluid levels
• Have roadside assistance information easy to access in the event you need to call

Holiday Shopping, a Growing Target for Identity Theft

A favorite pastime for many during the Holiday season, shopping and bargain hunting can be an opening for thieves if you let your guard down.

During the Holidays many increase their spending as they purchase gifts, with over one-third of Americans taking on an average of $1,250 in new debt.³

Opening new accounts is also another opening that thieves can take advantage of. Many retailers offer discounts for opening a new line of credit, and over 40% of consumers⁴ surveyed said they were likely to open a retailer account. These accounts all increase the number of places sensitive personal data is stored and the number of times that data is sent across the web.

Lastly, physical theft of credit cards or driver’s licenses can be
a problem in crowded stores when shoppers are distracted.

In order to protect yourself from the variety of identity theft threats:

• Turn on credit and identity alerts
• Freeze your credit if you don't plan on opening any accounts
• Keep methods of payment and identification guarded in stores
• Be wary of any websites offering deals that sound “too good to be true”
• Look out for phishing emails or shipping communication scams⁵
• Verify charities you donate to are legitimate⁶
• Strengthen passwords on websites
• Avoid public wifi⁷

Experts Have Concerns as Well

Many consumers are aware of large breaches that make headlines, such as the 2013 Target data breach that had 40 million customer credit card numbers stolen⁸, there are also many smaller breaches that are not as widely reported.

A survey of over 1,200 cybersecurity experts from companies around the world who had a previous cyber attack, found that almost 90% were worried about a repeat attack.⁹ Over one-third said they had no specific plan in place in the event of an attack.

¹ How Many Americans Are Traveling This Holiday Season — and How Much They're Spending by Dobrina Zhekova
² 2022 Holiday Travel Report by Erin El Issa
³ 1 in 3 Americans overspent during the holidays, boosting credit card balances by Jessica Dickler
⁴ 2022 Holiday Shopping Habits Report from Bluedot Reveals Big Demand for Buy Now, Pay Later as Consumers Brace For Price Hikes from Bluedot
⁵ Holiday fraud 2021: Developing trends and ways to protect yourself from telesign
⁶  Charity Navigator
⁷ 6 Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams and Protect Your Identity in 2022 by
Louis DeNicola
⁸ Target Settles 2013 Hacked Customer Data Breach For $18.5 Million by Reuters
⁹ Businesses worried about cyberattacks during the holidays, report finds by Nicole Sganga

The Holiday season is an exciting time of celebration, festivities and gathering with friends and family. Keep these potential risks in mind to have a less stressful season, lower your risk and be as protected as possible.

You can also learn more on our site about our roadside benefits and identity theft protection as part of our Legal and Personal Protection Plan. These plans can help you and your members stay protected and covered this Holiday season and beyond.

Schedule a brief call to discuss options and how we can help you. You can also fill out the contact form below to receive some informational materials to assist you in the process.