DATCP Scam Spotlight: Websites Offering Passport Services

Do you need to apply for or renew your passport? If you search online, the top results might show official-looking websites offering to renew or get you a passport. Some of these websites are private companies that charge for services that may be free on the U.S. Department of State website, while others are scammers trying to take your money and personal information.

Scammers set up sites with similar names, flags, and seals, pretending to be affiliated with the government. For anywhere from $60 to a few hundred dollars (on top of the regular passport fee), they promise to help you get a passport. But if you pay, you’ll lose your money and might be giving your personal information to scammers who could sell it to identity thieves.

· The U.S. Department of State handles passport services, but your top online search results might be phony passport application websites. Go directly to Travel.State.Gov to avoid clicking on a scam website.

· There is a charge to get a passport, but the forms to renew or apply are free. Anyone who asks you to pay for forms is a scammer.

· It’s free to set up an appointment if you need a passport to travel right away. The Department of State’s passport agencies and centers don’t charge for appointments, and paying someone to set it up for you won’t get your passport faster. Travel.State.Gov is the official government website for passport services. Some companies registered with the U.S. Department of State charge extra fees to submit your application and pick up your passport if you’re busy or need help, but you won’t get your passport any faster than if you apply on your own without the extra cost. A list of those companies can be found on Travel.State.Gov. Contact PassportVisaFraud@state.gov if you spot a fraudulent passport application or website, or if you paid someone who turned out to be a scammer.