How careful are you with your boarding pass? You probably keep it somewhere safe to make sure you do not lose it before your flight, but what about after your flight? If you have never given the security of your used boarding pass a second thought, it is time you did so right now. That little piece of paper could be your worst nightmare if it falls into the wrong hands.
Why Identity Thieves Want Your Boarding Pass
Yes, you read that correctly. Identity thieves want your boarding pass. You might think that your boarding pass could not possibly hold sensitive information that is valuable to thieves, but it does.
Nearly everything an identity thief needs to rob you blind is contained within the barcode of your boarding pass. This includes your:
- flight information
- name, address
- phone number
- credit card number
- frequent flier miles
- passport information
All of this information can be used to take over your identity. Thieves can even change your flight plans. This means that your flight could be rescheduled to an entirely different place, time, and destination- all to the benefit of the identity thief.
How Do Thieves Get This Information?
Almost all cell phones have QR code reading apps. These apps are free and can read almost any barcode that has been scanned. This includes the barcode on your boarding pass.
Once the code on your boarding pass has been scanned, your private information is now in the hands of identity thieves.
Identity thieves can get your boarding pass barcode by scanning the actual boarding pass after you have thrown it away, lost it, or simply left it behind on the plane after your flight.
They can also scan the barcode from pictures, such as those you might post on social media. You might be quite excited to show your friends that you have purchased tickets for a fun vacation destination, but the thieves who will steal your information from the barcode in the picture are much more excited.
Protect Yourself
Because your boarding pass contains such sensitive information, you need to protect it and yourself. Never post pictures of your tickets and boarding passes online. Do not lose your pass or throw it in the trash. Do not leave it behind once you exit the plane.
The best way to dispose of your boarding pass is by shredding it. If you do not have access to a shredder, you can also burn the pass. Regardless of how you choose to dispose of your pass, making sure that it will not fall into the wrong hands should be your number one priority.