An airport flight attendant has revealed how criminals prey on travellers – and what you can do to protect yourself this summer.
Barbara Bacilieri, also known as Barbie Bac, explained that the airport and planes are prime hunting ground for opportunistic thieves, as reported by What’s The Jam.
She claims that many thieves actually buy plane tickets so that they can access airports without the intention of even flying.
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This is so they can get access to places like duty-free, which is frequently robbed of expensive goods, and passengers’ valuable belongings, which are at risk during security checks.
Barbara said: “Airports operate like small cities, and just like in any city, crime happens every single day – only here, it’s harder to see, and even harder to stop.
“[Criminals’] only goal is to pass through security, access the boarding gates, and rob passengers or duty-free stores, then disappear before the flight departs.
“And it gets worse. Some of these thieves are repeat offenders, caught on camera, exposed on Instagram or TikTok, and yet – they’re still there, walking through terminals like regular travellers.
“Nobody stops them. No one follows up.”
The flight attendant said that airport USB ports are also a potential danger for travellers as they can be hacked, allowing thieves to access a wealth of personal information and bank details.
Bank cards are also at risk in the airport and what’s known as a hidden NFC scanner can extract their data in seconds simply by being brushed past the card.
This tiny act is often not noticed until days later when travellers see unknown transactions on their cards, often in foreign countries, making the crime even harder to stop.
Barabara said the threat to travellers continues on board planes and travellers are particularly at risk when the lights are dimmed.
She added: “The [thieves] wait for the lights to dim, for passengers to fall asleep, and then quietly open overhead bins, unzip bags, and take what they want. Jewelry, cash, electronics.
“I’ve seen it happen. I’ve reported it. And the truth is, without cameras on board, there’s often nothing we can do. And yes, they steal from the crew too.”
Thankfully, the airport attendant said there are ways to protect yourself when travelling.
She advises to always carry your own USB charging port for your devices, which should not be left unattended or out of sight for even a second during security checks.
Barbara warned: “Use RFID-blocking wallets to protect your cards from NFC skimming.
“Lock your carry-on, even during the flight. Avoid leaving valuables unattended, even for a second.
“Be cautious of overly friendly strangers, both in terminals and on board.
“If something feels off, report it to the crew immediately.”
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