5 Mistakes People Make When Sharing ID Documents

Every day, millions of people share copies of their ID documents - for job applications, apartment rentals, account verifications, and more. And every day, many of them make mistakes that put their identity at risk.

Here are the five most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Sending Full, Unredacted Documents

This is the biggest mistake of all. When someone asks for "a copy of your ID," most people send everything - front and back, every detail visible.

The problem: Most requests don't actually require all that information. A landlord verifying your identity doesn't need your passport number. An employer confirming your right to work doesn't need your date of birth visible. The fix: Before sending any ID, ask yourself:

• What specific information do they actually need?
• What can I redact while still meeting their requirements?
• Have I confirmed what's truly required?

Redact everything that isn't necessary. If they need more, they'll ask.

Mistake #2: Using Insecure Sharing Methods

Emailing an unredacted passport photo is essentially sending your identity through a postcard system. Email is not encrypted end-to-end by default, and messages can be intercepted, forwarded, or sitting in someone's inbox indefinitely.

The problem: Once you hit send, you lose control. That email could be:

• Forwarded to others
• Sitting in an unsecured inbox
• Backed up on multiple servers
• Accessible to anyone who hacks the recipient's account

The fix:

• Use encrypted file sharing when possible
• Password-protect documents (and send the password separately)
• Use platforms with automatic deletion
• Ask if in-person verification is an option
• At minimum, redact sensitive fields before sending

Mistake #3: Forgetting About Metadata

When you take a photo of your ID or create a PDF, the file contains more than just the visible image. Metadata can include:

• Your name (from device settings)
• Location where the photo was taken
• Device information
• Creation and modification dates
• Sometimes even GPS coordinates

The problem: Even if you redact visible information, metadata can reveal details about you. The fix:

• Use tools that strip metadata from files
• Check file properties before sending
• Be aware that screenshots and photos contain device information
• Consider using dedicated redaction tools that handle metadata

Mistake #4: Trusting Online "Redaction" Tools That Upload Your Documents

Searching for "redact PDF online" brings up dozens of free tools. Most of them require you to upload your document to their servers.

The problem: You're trying to protect your privacy by... sending your sensitive ID to a stranger's server? These services:

• Store your document (at least temporarily)
• May have inadequate security
• Could be harvesting data
• Might retain copies in backups
• Give you no way to verify deletion

The fix:

• Use tools that process locally in your browser
• Verify that no upload occurs (check network traffic if you're technical)
• Prefer open-source or transparent tools
• If you must use an online tool, at least manually redact the most sensitive fields first

Mistake #5: Not Verifying the Redaction Worked

You drew a black box over your passport number, exported the file, and sent it off. Done, right?

Not so fast.

The problem: Many "redaction" methods don't actually remove data:

• Highlight tools just add a colored overlay - text is still there
• Some PDF editors layer shapes on top without removing underlying content
• Image editors might not flatten layers
• Copy-paste from the "redacted" document might still work

The fix:

• Test your redaction by trying to select/copy text from the redacted area
• Open the file in a different viewer to check
• Use proper redaction tools designed for permanent removal
• When in doubt, print and re-scan (this destroys underlying text data)

Bonus Mistake: Sharing the Same Document Everywhere

Using one high-quality scan for every request seems efficient. But it also means:

• The same document is sitting in multiple places
• One breach exposes everything
• You can't customize redaction for different purposes

Better approach: Create purpose-specific versions:

• Version for employers (work eligibility visible)
• Version for landlords (name and photo only)
• Version for age verification (DOB visible, nothing else)

How to Share ID Documents Safely

Here's a quick checklist for any ID sharing:

Confirm requirements - Ask exactly what they need to see

Redact unnecessary info - If they don't need it, black it out

Use secure channels - Encrypted sharing when possible

Strip metadata - Remove hidden information

Verify redaction - Test that sensitive data is truly gone

Track sharing - Keep a record of who has copies

Follow up - Ask recipients to delete after verification

The Stakes Are Real

Identity theft isn't abstract. Victims spend an average of 200+ hours and significant money recovering from identity theft. It affects credit scores, job opportunities, and causes enormous stress.

A few minutes of careful redaction can save you months of problems.

Conclusion

Sharing ID documents is sometimes necessary, but oversharing is almost never required. Every piece of information you protect is one less piece a criminal can use against you.

Take the extra minute to redact. Use secure tools. Verify your work. Your future self will thank you.

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RedactID makes it easy to redact ID documents safely - everything processes in your browser, nothing is uploaded or stored.