Taking a photo of your suitcase at check-in could be the solution to protect yourself from this new scam targeting vacationers this summer.
When we are about to go on vacation, some people worry about arriving late or forgetting their passport, while others simply dread taking the plane… But the majority of travelers are rather excited by imagining themselves already on a warm sandy beach and sipping a delicious fruity cocktail in the sun. However, a fearsome new scam could well spoil the summer getaways of many vacationers.
In 2025, 17 passengers from Canada were victims of this manipulation, which is not without risks. Not only do they miss their flight and say goodbye to their vacation plans, but these travelers also find themselves accused and prosecuted for acts they did not commit. This scam called “Tag Switching“consists of exchanging the labels of suitcases with those of luggage containing illicit contents.
As Canadian journalist Avery Haines explains to CTV News, “the tag that was initially on your baggage ends up on third-party baggage filled with drugs; your suitcase then has no label or ends up with a ‘damaged’ label“. And it is the airport employees who would be directly involved in this formidable scheme. A way for the traffickers to protect themselves in case their plan fails. In this way, the latter escape unscathed without being prosecuted and the victim who does not notice anything finds himself with a suitcase full of drugs, in his name.
Last summer, a Frenchman was the victim of this scam according to the National Post. “In this specific case, the label of the suitcase containing the cannabis had been changed to make it appear that it belonged to the innocent traveler. Upon his arrival in Paris, the French citizen was arrested by the authorities on suspicion of cannabis trafficking“, it is reported. Thus, the only solution to protect yourself would be to take a photo of your suitcase at the time of baggage check-in, in order to prove that your label mentioning your first and last name and your postal address appears on the suitcases at the time of check-in.
Beyond simple photography, transport authorities and security experts recommend adopting strict reflexes to protect your luggage from any manipulation. It is therefore essential to carefully keep the registration receipt (the small sticker given at the counter), which constitutes your only legal proof linking your identity to the serial number and the exact weight of your suitcase. Furthermore, the use of TSA-certified padlocks, the filming of your baggage in official areas of the airport or the addition of permanent and difficult-to-transfer distinctive signs (such as a colored strap or stickers) remain major defenses to prevent fraudsters from modifying the appearance or content of your personal effects without your knowledge.
