Taking a summer vacation? Identity thieves aren't.

Pack the car, pack the kids, kennel the dogs, double check reservations. Everything set? Yes, for you and for the identity thief ready to take advantage of your summer vacation. Going on a summer vacation is supposed to be one of the highlights of the year. We save for it, plan for it and anticipate it all year long. Unfortunately, so do identity thieves. Summer vacations broaden the horizons for identity thieves. Most people aren't thinking about identity theft when going on their anticipated, stress-relieving summer vacation. A mailbox packed with the week's mail can be an invitation to identity theft criminals. A lost wallet can be an identity theft criminals dream! A few simple plans can minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. Before embarking on your dream vacation, have your mail put on hold with the post office for the time you are going to be away. A mailbox jam packed with credit card offers is just screaming 'come and get me'. Not to mention, it sends a signal to potential burglars that your house is lonely and vacant for the week. Only take the most vital cards with you. Leave the rest of your cards home locked in a safe or in your safety deposit box. You only want to take the least amount of personal identification with you as possible. While on vacation, keep a list of the purchases you make to compare with your credit card statements and credit report. Trying to remember all the purchase you made can be difficult, unless you have a photographic memory. If you haven't already memorized your pin number, now is a good time to do it. Be observant for 'shoulder surfers' when performing transactions at ATM machines. If using internet caf