Websites Overcharging for Public Forms and Documents

Consumers and businesses who need to complete or renew paperwork, or have something else they plan to submit to a government agency may encounter a clever scheme meant to overcharge them for filling out the necessary forms and documents. These can include driver license renewals, business licenses, applications for government benefits or programs, tax filings, and many others.

Some companies offer assistance with filing paperwork but charge users for access to forms, to submit the forms, or for “help” completing them. They may dishonestly claim these fees are charged by the government agency, but in reality the consumer could complete the application or transaction at a much lower cost, or often for free.

Consumers are contacted with these offers via email or physical letters. Sometimes, these messages appear to come from government organizations and contain instructions on how to use a website with a similar, but slightly different, address compared to the real government agency’s.

It is important that users go directly to the real government agency’s website to complete paperwork and confirm what fees are required. In most cases, companies that overcharge for helping with this paperwork are not providing a significant or important service – they are trying to take advantage of people. Providing payment or account information to a company who does not need it could also place a consumer or business at risk of identity theft.

Tips for consumers include:

Carefully check web addresses. Does it start with ‘https’? Does it end with ‘.gov’?

· Bookmark important, trusted websites instead of using links or search results.

· If in doubt, contact the government agency using verifiable and official contact information – not a phone number or email address provided in an email, text, or letter.