A must-read article in yesterday’s Guardian exposes a major identity theft risk. A Guarding reporter found that the information contained on an airline boarding pass stub would allow an identity thief to look up a passenger’s passport number, birth date, nationality and more. Using an actual boarding pass found discarded in an airport, the reporter was able to buy a ticket online in his "victim’s" name using only the frequent flier number printed on his stub. When the victim, Mark Broer, was contacted he responded:
"I travel regularly and, because I go to the US, I submitted my
personal information and passport number – it is required if you are a
frequent flyer and want to check yourself in," he says. "Experienced
travellers today know that they have to give up information for ease of
travel and to fight terrorism. It is an exchange of information in
return for convenience. But as far as I’m concerned, having that
information leaked out to people who could steal my identity wasn’t
part of the deal."
Frequent air travelers should read this article immediately. If you are concerned about the identity theft risks related to boarding pass stubs, you should contact the Transportation Security Administration complaint center at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov. Have you been a victim of travel related identity theft? Share your stories, tips and feedback in the comments section below.
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