“Toss your bag tags at home!” was the subject line of a recent Reddit post by someone who claimed to know the risks as a Delta Airlines baggage claims manager.
They warned that Delta is “getting an influx of fraudulent claims” where scammers use the information from discarded airline baggage tags — the adhesive ones airlines use on your suitcase handles — to claim “missing items” that aren’t theirs.
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If you’ve never looked closely at an automated baggage tag (ABT), you might not be aware that it has your name, flight number, date and destination on it. Some may also have the bag weight, place of origin and booking reference. [1]
And therein lies the problem.
Scammers hack baggage tags and boarding passes
There’s enough information about you on that tag for a scammer to pretend they’re you and make a claim for reimbursement of “missing items.”
According to the redditor, scammers watch for people at the airport who throw their baggage tags away. Then, the scammers dig the tags out of the trash to get all their baggage details and impersonate the traveler at baggage claims. [2]
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This form of identity theft is proving to be an issue for the airlines.
“It is causing issues with reimbursing the real people if they submit a legitimate claim,” according to the redditor, who advises waiting until you get home after your holiday to take the tags off your luggage.
One commenter warned not to throw your baggage tag away in your hotel room, either.
“As a former hotel employee, there have been a few instances of fraud using bag tags found at hotels too.”
Another remarked that “Japan had secured bag tag disposal receptacles near the secured exit of baggage claim … this explains why.”
Another commenter included advice on safely disposing of boarding passes: “SHRED your bag tags and printed boarding passes as soon as you can after getting to your destination.”
What’s the issue with boarding passes? Personal data on boarding passes can be hacked as well. [3]
Scammers use your boarding pass to access your ticketing information and steal your personal data, hijack your account or even commit identity theft. They can do it with a barcode scanning app on their phone.
Or they can ‘shoulder surf’ in line at the airport, collecting personal data from your boarding pass — such as your six-digit booking code or frequent flyer number — just by looking over your shoulder.
Protect yourself from identity theft on vacation
This latest airport scam is a reminder that even on vacation, we need to be vigilant about identity theft and fraud. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Keep your boarding pass, whether digital or printed off, stashed away until you need to show it to a flight attendant.
- Don’t post images of your baggage tags or boarding pass on social media. If they show up on social media, they’re open season for hackers.
- Don’t leave your boarding pass on the plane or toss it at your destination. As the redditors advise, wait till you get home to discard — and preferably shred — both your baggage tags and boarding pass.
- Only take essential identity documents and devices. The AARP advises leaving non-essential but sensitive documents — like passports if you’re traveling within the U.S. — and devices at home. [3]
- Avoid using Wi-Fi to check bank accounts, health status or other sensitive information.
- Avoid public USB charging ports, which can be hacked to download information from your phone. Bring a portable charger.
This doesn’t mean you have to be paranoid. Just take a few precautions and you’ll be able to enjoy your trip on safer terms.
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[1]. Sydney Morning Herald What information is on an airline bag tag?
[2]. Reddit Toss your bag tags at home
[3]. Krebs on Security Why It’s Still A Bad Idea to Post or Trash Your Airline Boarding Pass
[4]. AARP How to protect personal information while traveling
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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