BBB flags fake passport sites
The Better Business Bureau is warning travelers about fake passport‑renewal websites that try to harvest personal information and payment details, so don’t assume the first ‘renew now’ site is legitimate (wmbfnews.com). The immediate takeaway is simple and practical: verify the official government site before submitting sensitive documents, and renew early to avoid last‑minute fraud risk (wmbfnews.com).
A fake passport site does not need to steal your trip to hurt you. It only needs your full name, date of birth, address, Social Security number, passport details, and credit card number once. (bbb.org) That is why the Better Business Bureau is warning travelers about lookalike passport-renewal pages showing up when people search online for a fast renewal before summer trips. Some of those pages sell a filled-in PDF form for about $88 even though the real form is free on the United States Department of State website. (bbb.org) The trick is simple: the fake page looks official, may buy a sponsored search ad, and asks you to type in the same personal data the government would ask for. You pay once, get a form back by email, and still have not actually renewed your passport. (bbb.org) (consumer.ftc.gov) The real online renewal system is run by the United States Department of State, and the department says the official site for online renewal is opr.travel.state.gov. The department also says other sites or companies claiming they can renew your passport online may be fraudulent and cannot legally sign and submit that application for you. (travel.state.gov) The easiest check is the web address. The State Department says to use a site ending in.gov, not.com,.us, or.org, and warns that even a company with “Gov” in its name is not automatically government-run. (travel.state.gov) There is a second reason these scams work: panic. The State Department’s current passport processing times are 4 to 6 weeks for routine service and 2 to 3 weeks for expedited service, and that does not include mailing time on either end. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2) The department says mail can add up to 2 weeks for your application to arrive and up to 2 weeks for the finished passport to get back to you. A traveler who searches “renew passport fast” a few days before departure is exactly the person a fake site wants. (travel.state.gov) The rules also matter because not every passport can be renewed the same way. Adults who qualify can renew online or by mail, but children under 16 cannot renew and must apply again in person. (travel.state.gov) (usa.gov) If you already typed your information into a fake page, the Federal Trade Commission says to contact your bank or credit card company right away and then report the scam. The Better Business Bureau also runs Scam Tracker so other travelers can see the pattern before they hand over the same data. (consumer.ftc.gov) (bbb.org) The safest routine is boring on purpose: start at the United States Department of State passport page, use the official renewal links there, and do it weeks before you book yourself into a deadline. Fake sites live on urgency, and they get weaker every day you give yourself. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2)
