128 cases of passport fraud referred to gardaí over past two years

Ken Foxe

A total of 128 cases of passport fraud have been referred to the gardaí over the past two years.

The Passport Service said there were also 86 cases where they had refused an application for a passport over concerns it was bogus or because of question marks over the identity of the person involved.

In the first half of this year, 28 cases of passport fraud were reported to An Garda Síochána, while 22 people had their applications refused because of fears they were bogus.

Figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs also reveal the staggering level of passport loss and theft.

In the most recent two-year period, an incredible 57,280 passports were reported lost by citizens, an average of around 2,400 per month.

During the same time, 4,648 people told the Passport Service their passport had been stolen from them, either while travelling or at home.

There were also a large number of cases where passports had to be replaced because they were so badly damaged.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said between July of 2023 and June this year, 8,414 passports fell into that category.

The records show that certain quarters saw spikes in both losses and suspected fraud.

In the second quarter of 2024, for example, more than 9,000 passports were reported lost, which was the single highest three-month figure in the two-year period.

That same quarter also saw 1,236 passports replaced because of damage.

Fraud referrals to gardaí were consistently high, with 22 cases in both the third quarter of 2023 and again in the third quarter of 2024.

Asked about the records, a spokesman said the loss or theft of passports and passport cards compromised the safety and security of citizens’ personal data and could result in fraudulent activity.

He said: “The Passport Service ensures that passports reported as lost or stolen are cancelled and notified to Interpol at the earliest opportunity. Once the passport is cancelled and notified to Interpol, it is no longer valid for travel.”

The spokesman added that significant investment had been made in the Integrity Section of the Passport Service and that cases of suspected fraud were referred to An Garda.