We are currently in Porto and will be going on to Lisbon in a few days. Today I received a msg via WhatsApp from a woman saying she’s w the apartment we have reserved via booking.com. She says she needs our passport info, “taxes of city by PayPal” . She also says something about the check-in but the cleaning lady might not finished. It’s very hard to understand. She also says something about using a fork or pencil to ip passport…it’s very hard to understand. I wish I could post a screenshot here. Anyway she says she needs all this before she can send “links and code for eetronic keys.” Something is telling me I shouldn’t be sending this info this way. I have always been contacted via email or filled this info out when making reservation. This is our first trip to Europe so I’m hoping someone can advise me.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4574 posts
How about using Booking's email system to contact the hotel/apartment to see if legit? The questions aren't unheard of, but therenis most likely a translation issue and ai would be a bit concerned about the what's app. Booking email has built in Google translate and seems to work better than 'translate, copy and paste into WhatsApp'.
Posted by
363 posts
It sounds weird but I don't think it is an issue at all. Regular text messages cost money for some, which is why they want us to use WhatsApp. Several countries in Europe require passport info as you move around and a special tax, per night, per person, paid in cash at when you arrive. I have been asked for the same info more than once. Other countries take your passport for awhile. I would not concern myself with the request you received. J
Posted by
OP
Washington state, USA
25 posts
Thank you. I did just message the host via booking.com and asked if the request was legit. I don’t know why I didn’t think to do that first! It seems odd that I wasn’t contacted that way. I will see what I hear back. I’m still trying to figure out what she meant by using a pencil or fork on the passport? Would that be to make it impossible to use the photo to make fakes?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23319 posts
If is common to request passport information in advance. There is less information in your passport than on your driver's license. I would have no problem sending via the internet once you have determined who to send it to.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4141 posts
I’m still trying to figure out what she meant by using a pencil or
fork on the passport?
Just a theory but she may want you to put a fork or a pencil in the image with your passport as a way to prevent you from pulling a random image off the Internet. It's a common practice on some collector's sites to place a coin and the date along with the item you're selling.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11221 posts
She also says something about using a fork or pencil to ip passport…it’s very hard to understand
Definitely a contender for 'understatement of the week'
Hopefully the official communication channel provides some clarity
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1449 posts
I don't think I'd trust Whatsapp to send passport info.
Posted by
746 posts
Just back from Croatia and it was common to send PP pictures per WhatsApp. Many times you never have face to face contact with a host. I never though it was anything more than presenting your PP as in person, as in many countries, and they would make a copy of it.
Posted by
320 posts
So far all of the accomodations we've had in Spain -- and buying train tickets -- required passport info to reserve and the actual passport to check in. But these were requests made upon purchase/reservation, so I think caution is a good idea.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1214 posts
All of the accommodations in Portugal that we reserved for September have advised that we will need to provide full names and passport info two to seven days prior to check-in for tax purposes and for owner's own security or protection of their property, so that is not unusual.
The rest of the message is probably lost in the translation. I am guessing that she may be asking that you cover up the bar codes on your passport to give you some assurance that your passport will not be compromised/copied. You can try asking her in Portuguese using google translate and ask her to use her native language which you can google translate to clear up any misunderstanding.