The Dos and Don’ts of Inquiring about a Passport Number
When dealing with a passport number, it's important to understand the guidelines and boundaries set by governmental authorities. Here, we explore the scenarios where you might need to inquire about a passport number and the correct procedures to follow.
Why You Can't Access Passenger Information
No government will ever disclose the personal information of a passport holder to random individuals. This is a universally understood principle for safeguarding individual privacy and maintaining national security. Access to this information is strictly limited to authorized personnel.
What to Do in Case You Find a Passport
If you come across a passport on the street or in any other public place, the appropriate course of action is to return it to the police. The police can take custody of the passport and ensure it is properly handled. In cases involving foreign passports, it might be wise to contact the relevant embassy, but generally, the police are the ideal point of contact.
A crucial reminder: a passport is not the property of the individual to whom it is issued; it belongs to the government of the country that issued it. The local police, who work on behalf of the government, should be contacted to handle such matters.
Privacy First: It’s None of Your Damn Business
There are only a limited number of situations where you would need to check the owner of a passport number, and most of these scenarios are not applicable to the average person. If you have a passport number for no legitimate reason and no connection to the person it belongs to, you should:
1. Turn it over to the police
2. Destroy it to prevent misuse
The next question arises: why would you have a passport number? If you are involved in law enforcement and have legitimate reasons, you know how to proceed. For the rest of us, there is no valid reason to seek this information.
Committing Identity Fraud?
If you are unable to ask the person directly and are instead seeking this information to commit identity fraud, you are not only violating privacy but also potentially committing a federal crime. Identity fraud is a serious offense that can lead to severe penalties.
The best course of action is to be respectful of others’ privacy and adhere to the legal and ethical guidelines. If you need to know the owner of a passport number, try contacting the individual directly. If they cannot be reached, consider speaking to the local embassy of their country of origin to gather the necessary information.