Can you get a loan with just a passport photo?

Can you get a loan using a passport photo?

Крупные организации, например, банки, не кредитуют граждан по фотографии документов. Даже если одобрение кредита происходит удаленно (как в случае с Т-Банк), оформление кредитного договора все равно требует присутствия заемщика и наличия у него официального документа.

However, microfinance organizations issue microloans remotely to save on office rent and staff costs. In this case, the agreement is indeed concluded using only a passport photograph. Reliable MFIs try to prevent fraud in every possible way:

• they require the borrower to take a photo of their passport together with their face;
• to take a photo of their face next to a piece of paper with a written code on it;
• to take a photo of a signature identical to the one in the passport.

Such measures help employees make sure they are issuing a loan to the document holder.

However, despite such serious measures, fraudsters with your passport can still get loans from small microfinance organizations with an unestablished customer base. Since every borrower matters to them, document verification is not as thorough as with trusted MFIs.

Can you get a loan using a passport copy?

A passport copy is not an official document, so issuing a credit or loan based on it is illegal. This also applies to notarized photocopies of the document. But even this does not stop some lending organizations, despite the fact that their activities contradict the legislation of the Russian Federation.

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What to do if your passport falls into the hands of fraudsters

If you lose or have your passport stolen, the first thing you must do is notify law enforcement. Simply put, file a report. This will help you avoid liability if fraudsters use the document.

In general, your actions should be as follows:

1. If your passport was stolen, file a police report and be sure to obtain a notification receipt.
2. Contact the migration service.
3. Pay the state fee for issuing a new document.
4. Write an explanatory statement and fill out an application to obtain a new passport.
5. Present all necessary documents: 35x45 mm photos, the state fee payment receipt, the notification receipt, a marriage or divorce certificate, a military ID card, and birth certificates for children under 14.

Note.

A new passport will be ready within 10 business days.

How to check if a loan has been taken out in your name

You can find out if a loan or microloan has been issued in your name in only one legal way: by checking your credit history. From it, you can find out how many loans have been issued in your name and in which organizations.

First, you will need to find out which credit history bureaus store your credit history. Today there are only 9 bureaus operating in Russia, but banks most often send loan information to the largest ones:

• JSC "National Bureau of Credit Histories";
• United Credit Bureau, JSC;
• Equifax Credit Services, LLC.

You can find out which bureau stores your credit history using the Gosuslugi website. You can also order your credit history there. An alternative option is to send a request directly to the bureau.

If your passport was lost a long time ago (more than a year ago), you can also check if loans were issued in your name on the website of the Federal Bailiff Service. More specifically, it stores information about enforcement proceedings initiated in your name.

What to do if a loan was taken out in your name without your knowledge

If you find loans and microloans in your credit history that you did not take out, the first thing to do is contact the lender with a statement that you did not conclude an agreement with them and did not receive the borrowed funds.

Note.

As proof that your passport was indeed lost or stolen, we advise attaching a copy of the police notification receipt you received when filing your report to the application.

The lender is obliged to respond to your application and, upon request (!), provide information about the loan: when and where it was issued, which employee processed the loan agreement, to which account the borrowed funds were sent, and what phone number the fraudsters used to receive the confirmation code. In addition, request two copies of the loan agreement to later present them in court and to the police, and insist on an internal investigation.

Next, you need to obtain confirmation that the account is not registered in your name. This is quite simple to do:

• if you bank with the institution where the fraudsters' account is opened, request confirmation that the personal account does not belong to you;
• if you do not bank with that institution, request a certificate stating that you are not a client of the lending organization.

Now, along with all the evidence gathered, you can contact the police with a fraud report. Even if the police do not help find the perpetrators, your report will serve as proof in court that you are the victim in the case.

It is highly likely that the bank may refuse to write off an illegally issued loan. In this case, you need to go to court to have the loan agreement declared invalid. It is also a good idea to file a complaint with the Bank of Russia.

How to protect yourself against passport data fraud

To fall into the scammers' trap, you don't even need to lose your passport—simply having your passport details is enough for them to take out a loan in your name. Therefore, protect yourself from potential problems in advance:

1. Do not leave your passport details on unverified websites.
2. Do not leave your document as collateral.
3. Do not transfer your passport to third parties.
4. If lost, be sure to contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Answering questions

Finally, we will answer the most frequently asked questions on the topic of the article.

What can fraudsters do with my passport details?

Taking out a loan is not the only thing fraudsters can do knowing your passport details. In addition, they can register a shell company in your name, set up an electronic wallet for further illegal schemes, issue a SIM card, forge a document, etc.

Do I need to pay to get my credit history?

If you request your credit history no more than twice a year, you can get it for free. For more frequent requests, you will have to pay according to the credit bureau's tariff.

What will happen if I don't report a lost passport to the police on time?

If fraudsters manage to take out a loan in your name during this time, you will not be able to prove that you didn't do it. In other words, you will be the one held responsible for someone else's loan.

Can my husband/son/father take out a loan in my name if I gave my consent?

Only if you have issued a notarized power of attorney to this person.