Warning to Travelers in Spain: Protect Your Identity
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has issued a critical warning to guests staying at hotels and holiday rentals in Spain. The agency is cautioning travelers about the potential risks associated with providing copies of their identity card and passport to accommodation providers.
According to the AEPD, these documents contain sensitive personal data that could be used to clone someone’s identity if they fall into the wrong hands. The agency emphasizes that such personal information is highly valuable to identity thieves and could lead to serious fraud if not handled properly.
Travelers staying at hotels or renting properties in Spain are advised to be cautious when asked to provide identification documents. The AEPD suggests that guests should only provide the necessary information and verify the legal grounds for the accommodation provider’s request for such sensitive data.
To protect your identity while traveling in Spain, consider the following precautions:
- Be cautious when providing identification documents
- Verify the necessity of providing a copy of your ID or passport
- Check the accommodation provider’s data protection policies
- Ask if there’s an alternative to providing a copy of your identification
The AEPD is urging both travelers and accommodation providers to be vigilant about data protection practices. By being aware of these risks and taking appropriate precautions, visitors to Spain can help safeguard their personal information and reduce the risk of identity theft.
