Passports In The News - The Lessons Everyone Can Learn From These Accounts

Passports have been mediums for identity theft since they were first invented. With a passport, a potential identity thief can enter and exit the United States, and, using it as a veritable form of identity, can access all sorts of stuff that can be potentially dangerous. There have been many news stories lately about passport fraud, and with increasingly technologies on both sides of the passport fraud "industry," they are becoming more and more important for the American people to see. From a stolen US passport to identity theft of a dead man, these stories show just how dangerous a misplaced passport can be.

One of these stories comes straight out of Baltimore Washington International Airport. John Skelton, a 41 year old British citizen, tried to enter the United States using the passport of a certain Kurt Branham. Kurt Branham has been dead since 1994. He was a Legislative Aide to a United States Senator, and an obituary article helped to pin the criminal. One of the most surprising elements to this story is the fact that Kurt Branham's identity had been used two times before and was under monitoring by the US government.

A 29-year-old New York resident named Eugene Todie was a criminal who was on probation with the federal courts for criminal contempt. A counterfeit passport was used by Mr. Todie to leave and re-enter the United States several times. When apprehended, he actually was wearing an ankle bracelet for monitoring purposed. His explanation was that he wore it because he was a big Lindsey Lohan fan and since she had to wear one, he wanted to wear one, too. Now that was quite a story.

You may have heard about Lindsay Lohan's own issues regarding passports. While she was overseas, she claimed someone stole her passport, making it impossible for her to return to Los Angeles where she could appear in court for missing numerous court ordered alcohol education classes. She allegedly tried to re-enter the country without a passport, but she was denied entrance. Whether you believe her story or not, it just goes to show that no one is immune from the passport laws. She was able to handle her U.S. passport renewal emergency, but not without dealing with the consequences.

Dealing with passports is serious business, especially if it has been stolen, copied, or forged. A criminal can do a lot of harm to you and your family with a passport, so be sure to keep yours in a very safe place.

A stolen passport is a receipt for danger. The only reason anyone would steal someone's passport is because they are up to no good. Keep your passport in a safe place and if you ever lose it, immediately notify the authorities. - 39468