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Burgundy Passport Cover

I am always shocked when I see travelers not using passport covers. Consequently you might ask why should you use a passport cover like this one here? In general, I can think of at least two reasons.

First, to protect the this super important document. I am one of those people who likes my documents nice and neat. It gives me an extra sense of security when I travel. As a result, it makes me a more relaxed traveler.

Second, to prevent identity theft and credit card fraud. It is because an NFC blocking cover prevents your data from being scanned.

As much as we’d like to think that identity theft cannot happen to us, It does. I have gotten my credit card information stolen many times even though I safeguard them religiously. A lot of time after I return from an international trip, mysterious charges would subsequently show up.

Eventually, I discovered how electronic pickpocketing works. Seeing that, I started using RFID blocking gadgets. All of a sudden, no more unauthorized charges after traveling!

Given these points, I want to show you how to protect yourself with the an RFID blocking passport cover. For a cost of a few coffees, you can save yourself a lot of headache down the road!

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What is NFC?

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It is indeed the technology that allows data stored on a chip to be read without any physical contact. In fact, you are mostly likely already using it. For example, think mobile phone payment, contactless credit cards, debit cards, hotel room key cards, etc.

If a passport bears the international e-passport symbol, then it most certainly contains a RFID (radio frequency identification) chip. In essence, the chip stores the information on the data page. To be more specific, the data includes your name, picture, date of birth. As a result, these are prime targets for identity thieves.

International e-passport symbol
This passport page shows the physical structure of the RFID. A chip and the induction loop. In most passports, this is hidden inside the cover.
In this passport, the RFID structure is simply embedded in the back cover.

Can Someone Steal your Data If You don’t Use a Passport Cover?

In short: Yes! If you have an unprotected passport in your hand or in your pocket, then someone standing close enough can certainly scan it using a device. In fact, this is known as “electronic pickpocketing“.

In fact, other RFID cards and document can fall victim as well. For instance, credit cards and identification cards. Needless to say, when money is involved, the potential loss could be severe.

This Passport Cover Can Protect Your Passport and Credit Cards

In order to meet my needs, it took me a lot of research to find this one for my recent trips in Europe. To that end, it has been tested on seven flights, five different airports, and numerous subway rides. As a result, I am simply in love with it.

On thing to point out is that I actually used this as a wallet when I am flying. In addition, it also provides an RFID block for my credit cards as well. You can see the other features here:

An additional feature to point out is that it fits into coat or pant pockets rather easily. As a matter of fact, the thick padding makes it comfortable to do so. Obviously, it is not fun to hike from one terminal to another with something chaffing you every step of the way.

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Meanwhile, What If Your Passport Is Not American?

Certainly, I thought of you! Indeed, I have three passports myself. Some might not want the American passport cover design. On the other hand, some might simply want one that is more subtle. With this in mind, consider these other alternatives:

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Conclusion

To sum up, the world of high tech fraud is never ending. In order to stay ahead of the game, we need to stay informed and arm ourselves with protections. Fortunately, the products presented here are all reasonably priced. It was a pleasure to share my experience with you. So go ahead and get them before going on that big trip!

By the way, eventually you will want an RFID blocking wallet to go with that. This is what I use …

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Notice: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.

Anita Desai