Question

[miss_piggy]

a travel camp has asked me to send them a photocopy of my passport before our interview - since all I know about them is a website - just wondering how I can make sure I am not sending this information to some random person trying to collect all my information...? Any ideas?

[CAMPFRIEND]

I would check on the ACA site to see if the camp is listed! If not you can look up what ever state the camp is in to see if the camp there!

Why do they need you Passport before your interview. That gives them information that they can't ask you on an interview. It sounds strange to me!!

[drink the wild air]

Are you going to be travelling out of the US? Or are you a non-US citizen? If not, then they could get the same info from a drivers license or something. But if you are doing out of the country travelling and a passport is required I would understand the importance of making sure you have one since it can be quite a lengthy process to get one right now.

As far as making sure the camp is legit I would agree with whats already been said. Or asking them for a copy of any licensing or accreditation (sp?) that they have as a camp. I dont think that would be out of line especially when it comes to something as sensitive as your passport

[Dave]

Yeah I basically agree with everything that's been said already. Check out to make sure it's really a camp and not some random person, and ask them for their licensing stuff. It can't hurt.

[collissimon]

Even if they are legit, but you are still worried, you could always suggest that you will bring it with you to the interview, as it will save on your postage, make sure it doesn't get lost in the post etc.

[Sparkes]

You can also check with the American Better Business Bureau to see if there are complaints listed against them. I don't think sending them a copy of your passprt would be such a big deal - all it has on it is you name and address, along with your citizenship and place of birth.