For most of us, our passports are a ticket to a much-needed getaway. Our passports can help us see things we’ve never seen, meet people we wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to meet, and see places we’ve only previously dreamed of.
But a passport can do the same thing for a thief.
Considering how important a passport is as an identifying document, legally allowing a traveler to cross borders throughout the world, it’s easy to understand why thieves would target them.
In his book, “The Jackel,” author Frederick Forsyth wrote about an assassin who seeks out the identity information of a child who died; a child who would have been his age, had he lived. After obtaining that information, the assassin travels the world using a phony passport. The book was written long before the technology of today, and many of the ways Forsyth’s character used to obtain the stolen identity have been fixed. But creative criminals will always find a way to steal the identities of their targets.
Identity thieves often steal information and create passports, selling them on the Black Market to those wishing to commit crime or enter the country illegally.
To protect your passport while traveling, be sure to keep your passport on you at all times. Keep the document concealed properly, rather than in a bag that can be easily snatched. Many people use a special passport wallet with a neck strap. These can be carried around the neck and tucked into a shirt. You could also place your passport in the safe at the hotel in which you are staying.
Another step you can take to prevent passport theft is to sign up for LifeLock Command Center, which will provide you with active monitoring of the Internet and file-sharing networks, alerting you of any personal information breaches. As part of the Command Center, eRecon™ will search the Internet for the illegal selling or trading of your personal information. If any such activity is detected, you will be immediately alerted, and you can contact the proper authorities to protect your passport.
