This common airport habit opens you up to a scam, according to a baggage handler

If you’re in the habit of peeling off your airline bag tags and tossing them into the trash before you leave the airport, you might want to stop — immediately.

A Reddit post by u/Limp_Jeweler_2026, a user identifying as a Delta baggage claims manager, is gaining attention for revealing a behind-the-scenes scam: “We are getting an influx of fraudulent claims being submitted for ‘missing items,’” the user wrote. “These people are observing who is removing their luggage tags in the claim areas and using your information to submit claims for reimbursement.”

According to the post, bad actors are watching for passengers who toss their tags in the open, then collecting them and using the printed name, flight, and confirmation number to file bogus claims. “They make an email address with that person’s name in it, a random phone number and a random address and submit the claim,” the user explained. “That information is all they need.”

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The problem is now severe enough to delay legitimate payouts. “It is causing issues with reimbursing the real people,” the Delta employee said, urging travelers to “please start discarding your bag tags at home.”

Redditors chimed in quickly — and some were shocked. “Never thought my Final Destination paranoia would actually come in handy for something that’s actually real,” one user wrote. Another added, “Clearly my strategy of forgetting to remove the tag until it’s time for my next trip is paying off.”

Some even offered extra tips: “Shred your bag tags and printed boarding passes as soon as you can after getting to your destination,” advised u/Helpful_Hovercraft25. And don't leave tags behind at hotels either, warned a former hotel employee: "There have been a few instances of fraud using bag tags found at hotels too."

So while your airline-printed luggage tag may seem like trash to you, it can be a goldmine for scammers. So treat it like a credit card receipt — and destroy it properly.

Yahoo CreatorAlesandra DubinAlesandra (Alice) Dubin is an award-winning travel and lifestyle journalist. She has a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA in journalism from NYU. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their twins.FollowFollow