security
 

Is there any way of checking if a stolen passport has been used fraudulently?
I raise this because of an article in the Telegraph where someone had great problems in Portugal because his passport, which had been stolen 10 years ago had then been used in a fraud in Germany.
I am concerned as I am due to travel to Europe in August and both my and my wife’s passports as well as my driving license were stolen in Malaga last November.

Re: security
 

if - as I presume you did - you reported them missing to the police & the consulate at the time - I can't see why there would be a problem:unsure:

do you have a link to the article?

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Link is here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/tr...ft-victim.html

As the theft happened on the way to the airport we had no time to report to Consulate but only to the police at the airport who gave us a paper to enable us to fly out of Spain.
No information was taken re other contents of stolen bag.

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you have reported them missing since then:fingerscrossed:

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I reported them stolen to passport and DVLA offices and obtained new ones. I was informed that the stolen ones were cancelled. But wondered how many checks (e.g. the police, banks etc.) do when presented with them as proof of identity. Tried to notify consulate through FCO but that became very complicated. Amongst the items was a mobile phone which was used withing 20 minutes of theft to phone 2 Morrocan mobile numbers and one Moroccan landline (I have the numbers called). Notified phone company and police here but not much interest shown.

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Think you are worrying needlessly, friend of mine had hers stolen here in Spain, reported it to the police and the Embassy, she got her new one and not worried about travelling to UK and back. Would think there are thousands stolen yearly.

Enjoy your trip:thumbsup:

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I can’t think of a way to check on whether your passport or driving licence have been used fraudulently, but if they had been the police would have knocked on your door.

I would nevertheless carry a copy of any paperwork when you reported the theft and obtained replacements, after reading that Telegraph article.

It could have happened to any of us, and identity theft is on the increase.

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Is it still a requirement to carry your id or passport on your person? I always used to carry a photocopy of my passport - no way was I going to let the Madrid pickpockets get that! (luckily I ended up never being robbed)

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Well the only truely recognized ID you have is your UK passport, so if you don`t carry it you could be held until they find out who you are.

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If you read post three, you'll find that the person was held for three days precisely for carrying his passport.

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That was a totally different scenario, he was pulled by the police at the border for alleged fraud.
The question I answered was about the need to carry a passport. :thumbup: