What can someone do with your passport number in the UK?

Open fraudulent accounts: Stolen passport numbers help criminals open bank accounts, apply for loans, or get credit cards in your name, leading to financial damage that can take years to fix.

What do I do if I gave my passport number to a scammer UK?

Report the theft of personal documents and suspicious credit applications to the police and ask for a crime reference number. Contact CIFAS (the UK's Fraud Prevention Service) to apply for protective registration.

Can someone do something with my passport details?

Identity Theft. What is identity theft? In this type of criminal activity, fraudsters will attempt to obtain important personal information, such as your date of birth, passport number and Emirates ID details, to gain access to your bank account and then carry out fraudulent transactions.

How to check if someone is using your identity in the UK?

What happens if someone has access to your passport?

Your identity can be stolen if someone accesses your identity information, including from any document that contains information about you. Even if someone only accesses a small amount of your identity information, they may be able to steal your identity if they can find out more about you from public sources.

5 UK Citizenship And ILR Rules Everyone Must Know In 2025

What can criminals do with passport details?

Using just a few of your personal details, criminals can apply for bank accounts, credit cards, benefits and official documents in your name. There are many ways that someone get your personal information and steal your identity, including: finding out your bank details.

How do I check if someone is using my identity?

What are the signs of identity theft in the UK?

How to check if someone is trying to use your identity?

How common is identity theft in the UK?

Protect all your devices, without slowing them down. According to a FICO report, about 1.9 million British consumers (4.3%) acknowledged that their identity was stolen and misused to open financial accounts in 2023.

Is it safe to give my passport number?

Never give a photocopy of or information from your travel document unless you're sure it's going to a trusted organization or individual. If you do share information from your travel document with someone, you are responsible for anything they do with that information.

Is it safe to take a picture of your passport?

The front and back of the outside of your passport is likely pretty safe (expect for the passport number at the bottom. Pictures of the inside of the passport, that totally depends on who you are sending it to and what their intentions are with it.

Do passport numbers change?

This is to confirm that when a British passport is issued it carries a new number which is not related to the number of any previous passport. A British embassy, high commission or consulate is not able to provide a letter or certificate confirming the passport numbers.

How common is identity theft?

More than 1 in 5 (22%) of Americans report being victims of identity theft. The most common types of identity theft they've fallen victim to include financial (73%), employment (13%), and synthetic ID theft (10%).

What happens if someone steals your passport in the UK?

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you must cancel it before applying for a replacement. If your passport is damaged you must replace it.

How do I check if my credit card is opened in my name?

Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting. You can get access to your credit reports from all three credit bureaus for free using the website AnnualCreditReport.com.

How do I check if someone is using my identity in the UK?

Tell your bank, building society and credit card company immediately. This will show you if anyone has been trying to make credit applications using your identity. The three main credit reference agencies in the UK are: Experian.

What information does someone need to steal my identity?

Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as name, address, date of birth, social security number, and/or mother's maiden name in order to commit, aid, or abet any crime.

How to check if your Social Security has been compromised?

What are two warning signs you have had your identity stolen?

Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information

You don't get your bills or other mail. Merchants refuse your checks. Debt collectors call you about debts that aren't yours. You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.

How do I check if my identity has been compromised?

Check your credit report to see if an identity thief has used your information. Get your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Review the reports, and if you see an account or debt you don't recognize, contact the company and ask about it.

Can my identity be stolen with my name and date of birth?

The greatest danger of scammers having both your name and date of birth is that it makes it easier for them to track down your leaked personally identifiable information (PII) on the Dark Web. In a worst case scenario, even your basic information can be used to gather enough data to steal your identity.

What are two things you should do if your identity is stolen?

Consider Taking the Following Actions

Call or email the fraud department of the companies, banks or credit unions where accounts have been compromised. Explain that someone stole your identity and ask them to close or freeze the compromised account.

How do you know if someone is opening bank accounts in your name?

Fraudsters can open bank accounts using stolen personal information like your name, address, Social Security number, and existing account details. Check for unauthorized accounts by reviewing ChexSystems, Early Warning Systems, and credit reports every 3-4 months.

How do I put an alert on my social security number?

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).