A new report shows passports are going missing in the mail here in Florida as well as in Texas and New York.
Passports are key to navigating the globe and they have very sensitive information inside including our name, address, birthday, signature, and photo. So what happens if it goes missing?
A San Antonio family knows that feeling all to well. They say they're outraged after their daughter's passport got lost in the mail.
Dad, Lamar Khana said he sent his daughter her passport through the postal service. But after 17 days went by, the passport still hadn't shown up.
So the daughter went to the post office to take a look at tracking documents. Those documents show where the passport was last checked. That's when the family discovered the shipping address for the passport had been changed. So they went to that new address where an elderly woman who lived said the passport wasn't there.
The family showed emails from the postal service who says there's not enough information to find the passport.
“I am this is a legal document issued to my daughter through our U.S. government and if it ends up in the wrong hands god forbid we don't know what's going to happen,” Lamar Khana said.
A post office spokeswoman said they are trying to find the passport. The father filed a consumer complaint and learned that this is also happening in other states. He said a postal official told him passport thefts are on the rise in states like Texas, New York and Florida.
So here are a few things you need to keep in mind when traveling with it through the airport or sending it in the mail:
- Keep your passport hidden and in safe place while traveling. Don't just carry in your pocket. You want to keep it out of sight and protected in your wallet, purse or tucked away in your bag.
- Be aware of your surroundings, especially in foreign countries.
- Always keep a copy of your passport with you and at home. That way if you misplace it while traveling internationally, it will much easier and quicker to replace it.
- If your passport is getting sent in the mail, make sure your shipping address is correct and keep a close eye on the tracking information until it gets delivered.
If you do lose your passport, you're at risk for identity theft so make sure you report it missing immediately.
