Why do scammers ask for copies of your passport, driving licence, or other ID?
Personal identification documents enable scammers to commit identity theft, open fraudulent accounts, apply for credit, and sell verified identity packages to other criminal actors.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
A copy of a passport or driving licence is one of the most valuable items a scammer can obtain. Unlike a stolen card number, which can be cancelled in minutes, a government-issued identity document is valid for years, hard to replace quickly, and accepted as proof of identity across many contexts — financial applications, rental agreements, online account verifications, and more. Once a scammer has your documents, the damage can take years to fully contain.
Identity fraud using stolen documents follows predictable patterns. Scammers use your details to apply for credit, loans, or overdrafts in your name. These debts are then not repaid, damaging your credit score and potentially leading to debt collectors contacting you for liabilities you did not incur. New financial accounts can be opened to receive and launder money, creating criminal history attached to your identity. Utility accounts, mobile phone contracts, and tenancy agreements can all be taken out fraudulently.
The document itself also has a secondary market value. Verified identity packages — a real photo ID with a matching selfie — are sold to other fraudsters who need to complete identity verification checks to access financial services or platform accounts. This means a single submission of your documents to a scammer can generate ongoing harm as those documents circulate through criminal markets.
Scammers request ID under multiple pretexts: a job application asking for HR documents, an investment platform requesting KYC verification, a landlord asking for tenant references, or a prize claim requiring identity confirmation. Any of these can be a genuine request — but when the requester has not been independently verified, or when the request comes very early in a relationship before any legitimate need for it has arisen, it should be treated with significant caution.
Common red flags
- A document request arrives before any legitimate relationship is established
- You are asked to photograph yourself holding your ID document
- The requesting entity cannot be verified on an independent official register
- The request is via a messaging app rather than through a formal business channel
- You are offered a payment or benefit in exchange for ID verification
- The platform requesting documents has no verifiable physical address or regulation
What to do now
- Never send ID documents to any entity you have not independently verified
- Check that an investment platform or employer is registered with relevant authorities before submitting documents
- If you have already submitted documents to a suspicious entity, place a fraud alert on your credit file immediately
- Report to your national identity fraud authority and request guidance on what to monitor
- Monitor your credit report for unfamiliar applications or accounts
- Contact financial institutions proactively if you believe your documents are in criminal circulation
Frequently asked questions
Can you watermark a document to protect against misuse?
Adding a text watermark saying 'provided to [company] on [date] for [purpose]' reduces the document's value for other uses, since the watermark would appear on any fraudulent copy. It is not foolproof but it is a practical precaution.
How do you know if your identity is already being misused?
Signs include unexpected credit applications, unfamiliar debts appearing, calls from debt collectors for unknown obligations, or being informed of failed credit checks you did not initiate. Regular credit report monitoring is the most effective early-warning system.