Passport identity theft
Passport identity theft is becoming more of an issue around the world as many financial institutions will accept your passport as proof of identity, therefore allowing accounts to be opened and other services to be put in place. It is well-known that crooks are now able to detach the original photograph from a passport and insert their own without ultimately impacting upon the look and feel of the passport.
It is therefore essential that you keep your passport safe at all times, especially when on holiday overseas where various hotel staff and service personnel may not always have your best interests at heart. It is common knowledge that crooks have infiltrated hotels, travel companies and even the foreign office in the UK in order to fraudulently obtain passports. Even though the value of identification documentation on the black market in the UK and around the world has fallen over the last few years, do not be duped into thinking the documentation does not have a value to the criminal gangs!
Conclusion
If for some reason lose your passport, whether accidentally or it is stolen, it is vital that you report this to the authorities as soon as possible in order that various blocks can be put in place and databases updated. The bottom line is that if you make it as difficult as possible for the crooks to benefit they will probably move to another victim who may make life easier for them.