Send Scan of passport and credit card?
 

I am trying to buy tickets for the train to Macchu Picchu and the perurail agent wants me to scan my passport and credit card and email it to him. Does this sound secure?

Send it to me first so I can check it out :D

Why not just buy online without dealing with a middleman, or buy at the station?

PERURAIL : Travel Information for Buying Tickets : Cusco Tours : Machu Picchu Train : PeruRail.com

Did he mention a recent financial windfall that requires your help? :P

Sounds very secure from the agent's perspective. From yours? Not so much.

No way I'd follow those instructions. But, then, I'm paid to be a skeptic.:cool:

Yeah, I am going to pursue other methods.

Lots of governments already have your passport number and scan.

If the agent goes to the government and they verify, that is legit. Especially in Peru, where they have troubles with this Spanish rock band called Sendero Luminoso and its little brother.

I would only give someone else's credit card with a limit of 12.00 to someone in South America, sight unsdeen.

Speaking of scams:

IRS Warns Tax Preparers to Beware of Phishing Scam
The Internal Revenue Service warned tax preparers and other tax professionals to be on guard against bogus emails seeking updated personal or professional information that in reality are phishing schemes.

IRS Warns Tax Preparers to Beware of Phishing Scam

Sorry, I am a little dense....are you suggesting it is ok or not to send him my scans?

If there's a way to buy without verification (like online) then go for it. No reason to give government scum from any country any more info than absolutely needed.

Doesn't matter, they got it anyway and it can't hurt him.

It's the credit card nonsense that I would avoid like the plague.

They don't have a passport #, DOB, etc. No one asks for that kind of info unless it's an int'l train ticket. (Amtrak does ask for ID in some cases, but it can be got around by using a pre-paid CC at a vending machine and they don't copy or scan the ID.)

Just buy the damn thing online, using a pre-paid CC if you feel uncomfortable.

I'm married to a native Peruvian. Corruption is very low there these days, everything is very official. I would feel much better dealing with the Peruvian government than some of the others. You can still buy your way out of trouble in some cases, but that's just clean skimming. Anything criminal is not tolerated.

Goodluck

They sent me a excel type form to fill out but it would not accept my information completely thus I tried to do it over the phone. I think I'll try to go through the hotel.