Minister urged to take action on ID privacy, copying by hotels

Holidaymakers should no longer be required to hand over their passports or ID to hotel or campsite staff in an effort to cut the risk of identity fraud, travel organisation ANWB said on Wednesday.

It has written to home affairs minister Ronald Plasterk urging him to take action now the summer holiday period is almost here.

In the meantime, the ANWB says people should ensure their BSN number is covered up or scratched out on passport photocopies. Access to BSN numbers allows fraudsters to open bank and other accounts in someone else’s name.

‘In one-third of identify fraud cases, the problems began when someone was asked to hand over their passport or a copy of their documents,’ ANWB spokesman Markus van Tol said.

‘Government calls to be careful with ID cards have led to nothing,’ Van Tol said. ‘We now want the minister to take rigorous action both at home and in the rest of Europe.’