Passport Fraud

This fraud is commonly seen in Europe where young girls especially will travel to a different country to work at a job offered to them.  Upon arrival, their passports are taken away from them, and they are then sold into slavery.  Without a passport, it is near impossible to prove your identity or citizenship in another country, and you are unable to get back to your own country.

If you have lost your passport, and you think it may have been stolen, you must contact the United States Department of State (USDS) by going online or calling the local field office in the area that you're in.  If you’re in another country, go to the nearest embassy and explain the situation to them.

If you need to report and replace a stolen passport in the U.S. you need to fill out a DS-64 Form which you can get at the USDS website.  Fill in as much of information from your passport as you can remember.  Be sure to be specific when answering the questions.  Sign the form and send it to:

U.S. Department of State
Passport Services
Consular Lost/Stolen Passport Section
1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036.

This form does not get you a new passport, it only notifies the USDS that your has been stolen.  To reapply for a new passport, you must go to the Passport Agency in person.  When you get to the agency, you will need to fill out a DS-11 along with your DS-64 to apply for a replacement.

Once your passport has been reported stolen, it is no longer valid for travel in which case the thief with your passport will have no use for it anymore and your identity will no longer be abused.  However, if the passport is found, you should submit it to the address above where they will either permanently cancel it and send it back to you or destroy it.

It would be wise to look over your passport if you still have it in case it was ever to be stolen.  Then, as you fill out your form, you’ll be able to better give the information on the passport, which will help in resolving the matter in a timelier manner.  Don’t procrastinate on reporting your lost or stolen passport as it is a very serious situation, and the consequences may be severe the longer it takes to cancel it.