Jessica Willock from Confused.com has issued a warning to UK passport holders
Sophie Buchan Money and Lifestyle Writer
07:00, 03 Aug 2025
Passport holders, be aware(Image: Getty)
Passport holders in the UK could be at risk of their bank account being drained. Travellers are being urged to keep their passports and boarding passes with them at all times for a reason many may not think of.
The warning comes from personal finance expert at Confused.com, Jessica Willock, who warns travellers that careless handling of your travel documents could lead to them being resold. And whilst you may think people can do nothing with a re-sold passport given the faces don’t match, you would be wrong.
She explained: “With news that stolen passports can be worth £4,000 to those reselling, it’s an important reminder to look after your passport carefully, especially when you are out and about in busy airports and holiday destinations.
“You might not realise it, but losing a lost passport or leaving your boarding pass with your named details on can result in fraudulent bank accounts being opened, credit cards taken out in your name or even loans secured without your knowledge.”
Passport holders in the UK have been warned(Image: Caspar Rae via Unsplash)
As part of their research, the website revealed over half of UK adults (52%) say they’ve been targeted by scams. Because of this, they warn that travellers need to be more vigilant with their valuable personal belongings.
She further cautioned: “You should treat your passport and boarding pass as if they were cash. Avoid posting them on social media, never leave them unattended, and use secure apps or encrypted storage for digital copies rather than open cloud services. If anything does go missing, act immediately by reporting it to Action Fraud and contacting your bank.”
By acting as soon as you notice it may have been stolen, your bank can ensure your card is frozen. Jessica concluded her alert by reminding people that “scammers rely on small mistakes from others” and of course, summer is prime time for this to occur.
This is because holidays are a time to relax and unwind, and you may have your guard down. You should always stay prepared and ensure you are being careful before you get to the beach to avoid any of this unwanted stress or potential cost.
Martin Lewis passport warning
Martin Lewis sends passport warning to This Morning viewer ahead of holiday(Image: ITV)
Money Saving Expert founder, Martin Lewis, has also issued a passport warning. Urging Brits to make two crucial checks on passports before going on holiday, he cautioned: “If you have less than six months left, you might still be okay, but then you need to go and check the individual countries requirements.”
The second check, as reported by The Mirror, is the “one that catches people out”, Martin revealed. He mentioned frequently receiving correspondence from members of the public who claim they’ve been refused entry onto aircraft or rejected at immigration control.
He posed the question: “Is your passport under ten years old? So you could have more than six months left, but your passport be ten years old and you can get turned back.”