Planning a trip, responding to a natural disaster, or signing up for new benefits often means making quick decisions. A few thoughtful habits can help you move forward with confidence and keep your finances and personal information secure.

Travel with confidence

When booking flights, hotels or vacation rentals, work directly through well-known travel sites or the official website of the airline, hotel or rental company. If you discover a great deal through a social media post or email promotion, confirm the offer on the company’s website.

As you plan your trip, be sure your Civic credit cards are travel-ready. You can message us through the Civic app or call our Experience Center 24/7 at 844-772-4842. Let us know the credit card you plan to use while traveling, along with basic details about your trip. Check your Civic app along the way to ensure there are no fraudulent charges on your card.

Be alert after disasters

After hurricanes, wildfires or other emergencies, one way to help is to choose established charitable organizations and give through their official websites to ensure your donations reaches the people and communities you want to support. Trusted charity-rating websites such as Charity Navigator or GuideStar can provide helpful background on how organizations use donations.

If you are a victim of a natural disaster, be on the lookout for others trying to take advantage of the situation. These may include people who claim to be government employees or charity workers. Fraudsters prey on those who are vulnerable and in crisis while pretending to help with recovery. Always ask to see official identification, then contact government agencies or local law enforcement to confirm if these people are valid.

Stay informed about benefits

Whether it is health coverage, retirement plans or government programs, benefits information is usually shared through official portals or recognized organizations. If you receive a text or email message about new or updated benefits, instead of clicking on a link, it’s better to go directly to the official website or contact the organization using the phone number listed on its main page. This simple step confirms the information is accurate and keeps your personal details in the right hands.

Watch web addresses

Look for secure website addresses that begin with “https.” Also check the entire link misspellings or out-of-pattern characters that may be included, such as a symbol, character or number substituted for a letter. For example, “amaz0n” instead of “amazon. Also look for unusual domain extensions such as “.biz” or “.info.”

A few smart habits go a long way

Keep personal information private unless you confirm the source, pause briefly before sharing financial details, and consistently check unfamiliar web addresses. These small steps help ensure your travel plans, disaster-related transactions and benefits enrollment all move forward smoothly.