‘[Criminals’] only goal is to pass through security, access the boarding gates, and rob passengers or duty-free stores, then disappear before the flight departs.<\/p>\n
‘And it gets worse. Some of these thieves are repeat offenders, caught on camera, exposed on Instagram or TikTok, and yet – they’re still there, walking through terminals like regular travelers.<\/p>\n
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An airport flight attendant has revealed how criminals prey on travelers – and what you can do to protect yourself<\/p>\n
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Barbara Bacilieri, known as Barbie Bac online, explained that the airport and planes are prime hunting ground for opportunistic thieves, as reported by What’s The Jam<\/p>\n
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She claimed that many thieves actually buy plane tickets so that they can access airports without the intention of even flying<\/p>\n
‘Nobody stops them. No one follows up.’<\/p>\n
Barbara added that bank cards are also at risk in the airport and what’s known as a hidden NFC scanner can extract data in seconds simply by being brushed past the card.<\/p>\n
This tiny act is often not noticed until days later when travelers see unknown transactions on their cards, often in foreign countries, making the crime even harder to stop.<\/p>\n
Barabara said the threat to travelers continues on board planes, especially once the lights are dimmed, and warned to stay vigilant.<\/p>\n
She added: ‘The [thieves] wait for the lights to dim, for passengers to fall asleep, and then quietly open overhead bins, unzip bags, and take what they want. Jewelry, cash, electronics.<\/p>\n
‘I’ve seen it happen. I’ve reported it. And the truth is, without cameras on board, there’s often nothing we can do. And yes, they steal from the crew too.’<\/p>\n
Thankfully, the airport attendant said there are ways to protect yourself when traveling.<\/p>\n
She suggested you always carry your own USB charging port for your devices, which should not be left unattended or out of sight for even a second during security checks.<\/p>\n
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And there’s one common practice that most travelers do that she warned may actually putting them at risk: charging their phones at a USB port in the airport<\/p>\n
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Barbara said: ‘Airports operate like small cities, and just like in any city, crime happens every single day – only here, it’s harder to see, and even harder to stop’<\/p>\n
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According to the flight attending, charging your phones in airport USB ports is a potential danger for flyers as they can be hacked, allowing thieves to access personal information<\/p>\n
Barbara warned: ‘Use RFID-blocking wallets to protect your cards from NFC skimming.<\/p>\n
‘Lock your carry-on, even during the flight. Avoid leaving valuables unattended, even for a second.<\/p>\n
‘Be cautious of overly friendly strangers, both in terminals and on board. If something feels off, report it to the crew immediately.’<\/p>\n