Viator Request for Passport Information

That is common and the information is not particularly sensitive. Someplaces will photo copy your passport so don't panic. Your passport is your ID and they want to know who they are dealing with. Your local drivers license probably has more sensitive information than your passport. The next request will be credit card numbers via the internet. And that is not a problem either.

Seconded, your passport is your ID. You need to show it to lots of people, hotels and airlines need to copy your passport details.
It is not sensitive information, no risk in giving passport details out.

Nothing unusual with this type of request. See it all the time on the various tours we have booked from the USA.

I do not really agree with the previous. Passport is not to share everywhere and do not let anyone photocopy it. It is definately OK to show but do not send or copy

I don't understood what people think is so sensitive about a passport. Worry about theft or loss mid-trip, that I understand. But what can someone do with a copy of the photo page of your passport?

In addition to hotels, travelers should expect to be asked to leave some form of ID at the counter at many museums providing audioguides. If you aren't carrying your driver's license around with you, that will mean leaving your passport at the counter--though some places may accept a photocopy.

"Do not let anyone photocopy it (your passport)"

Then do not go to Italy where at every hotel check-in, copying your passport is part of the process.

Sounds like a security step so it would be good for the company to have that Information in advance. And there is nothing sensitive listed on the passport.

Thanks to all our fellow travelers who shared their experience and opinion. We have since learned the information is required by the port authority of Mykonos and you cannot board without providing it. They do not require a copy of your passport but do require the number, expiry, country and date of birth. Hope this will help if others encounter this situation.

You also need to provide that information to attend a soccer (er, football, er calcio) match in Italy.

Lekka, I am curious what your source is for making such a bold statement that is contrary to most of our experiences? There was a time when we turned over our passport to the hotel clerk who copied the passport that night but now with inexpensive copying machine, they routinely make a copy and return it. Even my current passport has been copied a dozen times with no problems. There is nothing in the passport that is not public information.

Because I am an internal auditor and I do know from frauds

Lekka, that may be your advice, but it is inpractical. By law, all hotels in the Schengen have to record passport/ID details of all foreign guests.
And for flights into or out of the Schengen Area, or the UK, airlines are required to collect passport data before they will let you check-in.
And the US has a thing called ESTA, where you have to give in your passport details online if you are flying to the US.
And if you have to prove your identity to a open a bank account, or do any legal transactions, you need to let them copy your passport details.
Not handing out your passport details is only possible if you stay at home - not even then, you may have to show your passport as ID if you want to buy alcohol.

lekka, how many internal frauds have you investigated that involved passports?

Our tour operator for our upcoming trip to China needed a copy of our passports for the hotel bookings, internal airline flights, etc. for the tour. Not an issue.

Many as I work at the airport

Everyone collects data and hotels ask for passports but it is forbitten according to Gdpr and personal data laws to keep a copy. I really can not understand why you get aggressive. I just propose

And you compare a bank with an Internet booking. This is not logical. You yourself write that they ask for info. They do not keep copies

Nope, GDPR (which will be a mystery to our non European friends) only says that the Data Controller needs to take care of what is retained, doesn't discriminate what form the captured data is in, and that consent (implied or explicit) to the retention is obtained.

Maybe Hungary or Greece or wherever you are (your profile is silent) has some law that the rest of us are not privy to.

Your answers don't follow. First you tell the questioner not to let them have it, now you say they are not allowed to. Which do you want to stick with?

According to Greek where I come from legislation does not permit to keep copies of personal data in copy. Even if you do put them on your system the client has to sign agreement letter. Again I do not understand why you get aggressive. You do not like my opinion do not follow it. I did not oblige anyone.

not aggressive, just reliving my last year of jumping through GDPR hoops

So is there a difference between a place that copies down by hand all of the data from your passport -number, country, date of birth, expiration date - and a place that rather than take all that time (and possibly making a mistake) makes a quick photocopy? I am much more concerned that fraud can come about from the copying of my credit card number including the expiration date and CCV.

Yep, it's common practice. Even RS requests passport information when booking one of their tours. All hotels will request a copy too.

I just booked a 3 day trip with a Greek travel agency. They ask for a copy of your passport or id. I am going to send a copy of my ID. Out of curiosity what do they do with it?

Actually your ID has more useful information to an identity thief and than does you passport. So if concerned about identity theft, send the passport. They want the information to identify you.

They ask for a copy of your passport or id. I am going to send a copy of my ID.

LF, that statement confuses me, what ID?
By "ID" they mean National Identity Card from an EU/Schengen country. If you are not from an EU/Schengen country, the only legal ID is your passport.

Actually your ID has more useful information to an identity thief and than does you passport.

Frnak, what do you mean by "ID".

For US, general reference to ID is most likely the state driver's license. Assume that LF was referring to his driver's license.

yes my drivers license. They just told me i don't have to send it.