Crete Greece TourByLocals Wants my Passport munber

[hymiemanusch]

On Emerald Princess docking in Chania (Crete) Greece Aug 22.  We have arranged a private tour thru ToursByLocals.  We have paid for tour not our guide is asking that I email him my Passport number, date and place of birth, father's name and the Country of Issue for your passport for tax purposes and register the tour!  Has anyone heard of this practice or is this a scam?

[cruisemom42]

It is not an unusual request. Hotels, tour guides have all either asked for passport details or copied my passport. It is sometimes required by local police or tax authorities. The information is not particularly sensitive.

[hymiemanusch]

Crusemom42, thank you for your reply.

[LMADAMS91]

We had to supply Passport information for our guide/driver in Athens. I was told it was so they could get into the port (they have to supply that to the port authorities, I assumed.)

[hymiemanusch]

Thanks for the reply.  I contacted our guide and explained I wasn't comfortable providing the requested information over the internet and that I would provide when I see him.  He said OK. 

[georgiacat]

How was your tour?  I am looking for tours around Crete and would prefer small rather than the ship's large bus.

[iancal]

It is normal for us to provide our passport when registering for accomodation, renting cars, currency exchange, and air/water transportation.  

 

I cannot think of one time over many years of international travel where an in country private tour operator requested either our passport numbers or a copy of our passports-  Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa or  Central/South America. 

[hymiemanusch]

For Chania tour, Peter Tsampas was very good and I would use him again.  And being 6'9" it wasn't hard to find him! (Played basketball in South Carolina)

[mommyx2]

do you have contact information for Peter Tsampas?

[hymiemanusch]

Peter: guide_31753-91@toursbylocals.com, mobile: +306977417412