‘I’m a travel expert – this is why you shouldn’t put your address on your suitcase’ | Travel News | Travel

That however might seem counterintuitive to many, with traditional luggage tags having a space for your name, phone number, address, and even email. Travel blogger Mark Wolters however says putting your address on your suitcase could open you to a series of scams.

Mark, who posts as Wolter’s World on YouTube, warns nefarious individuals could even use the address to redirect your suitcase, stealing your valuable belongings. In a YouTube videohe said: “When it comes to your bag tags, don’t put your whole address on them.

“Think about it, if you’re at baggage claim and you’re a cute young man like myself, and my address and phone number are right there, and someone goes ‘I like, that guy, I’m going to follow him to his house.’ You don’t want that.”

Mark says he and his family simply include their name, phone number, and email address. He continued: “If I travel, how is my home address going to help? They’re not going to send it to London, they’re going to send it back to the US.”

He went on to explain that travellers should avoid giving out “too much information”. He also encouraged travellers to make sure they have a privacy flap covering their basic information.

While this might seem excessive to some people, he says anyone wanting to access your details are just a simple picture away. He says your private details can also be used for identity fraud.

Should your details be left on your case, Mark warns travellers that scammers can encourage the airline to redirect their luggage elsewhere, giving them access to your personal items.

He said: “Your bag tags have that number on there, and people can file false claims saying, ‘Here’s my bag tag number, where is it? Oh it’s not there, send it to this hotel, this address’. Then you’re out of luck.”

It prompted Mark to warn holidaymakers not to share too much of their personal details on social media. As well as the bag tags, he says this can extend to your boarding pass or even when they’re on holiday.

He says including the exact details of your trip means that potential burglars know when your house is “wide open”. Elsewhere, Mark warns tourists to watch out for fake customer service lines.

He explains that sending a social media post to your airline can lead to fake accounts messaging you, saying they can sort your problem out if you send your bank details. He added: “Those airlines aren’t going to ask for your credit card details in your DMs, they already have that information because you bought a ticket.”

He advises travellers to make sure they are messaging verified customer service lines.