Holidaymakers are being warned that using their phones at the airport, on the plane or while sightseeing could land them in hot water.
From sharing a picture of your boarding pass or passport online to photographing the wrong building, what might seem harmless could put you at risk of identity theft, fines or even arrest.
Speaking to Esimatic, consumer rights expert Martyn James has revealed the everyday phone mistakes holidaymakers should avoid when travelling, and why travellers should think twice before reaching for their camera.
Martyn said:
‘A photo of your boarding pass could lead to identity theft’
“Taking a photograph of your boarding pass isn’t particularly risky in itself, but you should bear in mind that a fraudster could use the information on it to hack into your account, obtain personal details and nick your airline points or frequent flier discounts.
“Something much riskier is photographing your passport. We tend to photo key travel documents and email them to ourselves in case we lose them.
“Type ‘passport’ or ‘password’ into your email search box and see what comes up. Now consider that a thief only needs your password to gain access to your email, where they can find all of this information in seconds, which can lead to identity theft.”
‘Never take photographs in security or customs’
“Just acting suspiciously in an airport can get you arrested for a multitude of reasons, including some pretty serious charges.
“In security, customs and restricted areas of an airport, you can potentially be arrested for taking photographs, but this usually happens if you ignore repeated requests to stop doing so. Most countries have strict aviation safety arrangements allowing people to be detained for this.”
‘Using your phone on a flight could land you in trouble’
Using your phone on a plane when you aren’t supposed to could land you in trouble. In some places, like America, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules do not allow you to use your phone during the flight. But failure to follow flight attendant or pilot instructions can also lead to arrest on landing, depending on the severity and your behaviour on board.
“Travellers should also bear in mind that while it might be tempting, sharing photos or videos of incidents on board a flight could lead to private legal action being taken against you by the people involved. Airlines have also begun clamping down on people photographing their staff too.”
‘Don’t risk taking photos of these buildings or people’
“As a general rule, very few countries approve of you taking photographs or videos near military bases and airports, so don’t risk it. The same goes for some government buildings and even photographing police or members of the armed forces, especially at airports, border crossings or customs points. If there’s a warning sign, don’t start waving your camera around.
“In some parts of Europe and the Middle East and Asia, you are not allowed to intentionally photograph some or all other civilians without their permission. These include places like Dubai, South Korea, and Algeria, where it is illegal or a societal taboo that could lead to arrest. In Scandinavia, it’s frowned upon but not illegal to take photos of strangers in public places.”
