Rogue websites are hijacking genuine applications
BRITISH nationals in Thailand who apply for a new UK passport using the government’s four-day Premium service are in danger of being cheated by Internet scammers who set up official-looking websites to hijack their application and pocket the money.
Search engines like Google invariably produce of a host of options to apply online for a passport, including websites with names like ‘ukgov passport support’ that are clearly designed to confuse applicants. To support the scam, such sites often feature impressive coat-of-arms or the Union Jack.
Search engines like Google invariably produce of a host of options to apply online for a passport, including websites with names like ‘ukgov passport support’ that are clearly designed to confuse applicants. To support the scam, such sites often feature impressive coat-of-arms or the Union Jack.
Some rogue websites are even listed above genuine UK government passport application sites. Their application procedures are also similar to official documentation.
A longtime British expat who planned to renew his passport using the Premium four-hour service during an upcoming
visit to the UK was fooled into using one of these unofficial sites. In the end, he lost £117.50 and had to spend another £128 for a genuine passport.
“After getting contact details off a website, I called the designated number in the UK and was told an appointment would be booked at the Passport Office in Victoria (London) to get my new passport.
“The man taking my call asked for a UK address and postcode to send an application form, which I provided. He then asked me to transfer money to pay for the passport. As I don’t use PayPal, I offered to send the money via a credit card, which he agreed. After giving him details on the card, he confirmed an appointment had been made.
“I thought nothing more until I turned up at the Passport Office in London only to be told they had no record of my name or appointment.
“The reception desk knew immediately what had happened. ‘It’s a scam’ they told me. Apparently I was not the first to have fallen for this trickery.
“Luckily, the lady at the desk took pity on me and booked me an appointment on that same day, but explained I’d have to pay the fee again – £128, which I paid to the Passport Office after the interview.
“Straightaway I cancelled my credit card as I had given this rogue website details which could be used again to extract money. The bank said I’d be able to claim back the money I had spent with the website.”
The man now believes that although the scam is known to the authorities, they may not be able to take action because those behind it may insist they are simply providing a service, including advice and posting an application form.
“The fee they charge is notably different from the official fee, so they can also claim that their customers should not mix up the two payments. But one service they didn’t provide was the appointment, which surely makes it illegal.”
Four hours after his appointment, the man walked away with a brand new UK passport*. He’s still waiting for the refund from the credit card company.
Some applicants based in the UK have hit been hit by a similar scam. One family who lost money was informed that the website they used to initiate the application was operated and owned by a Third-Party form-filling service located offshore in the Caymen Islands, conveniently beyond the reach of the English law.
*Although costlier than normal applications, the four-hour service is an excellent way for Brits to bypass the backlog and delays now affecting passport renewals. The only snag is that it is only available in the UK.
To verify all applications, call the Identity and Passport Service telephone Adviceline on 0300 222 000.
A longtime British expat who planned to renew his passport using the Premium four-hour service during an upcoming
visit to the UK was fooled into using one of these unofficial sites. In the end, he lost £117.50 and had to spend another £128 for a genuine passport.
“After getting contact details off a website, I called the designated number in the UK and was told an appointment would be booked at the Passport Office in Victoria (London) to get my new passport.
“The man taking my call asked for a UK address and postcode to send an application form, which I provided. He then asked me to transfer money to pay for the passport. As I don’t use PayPal, I offered to send the money via a credit card, which he agreed. After giving him details on the card, he confirmed an appointment had been made.
“I thought nothing more until I turned up at the Passport Office in London only to be told they had no record of my name or appointment.
“The reception desk knew immediately what had happened. ‘It’s a scam’ they told me. Apparently I was not the first to have fallen for this trickery.
“Luckily, the lady at the desk took pity on me and booked me an appointment on that same day, but explained I’d have to pay the fee again – £128, which I paid to the Passport Office after the interview.
“Straightaway I cancelled my credit card as I had given this rogue website details which could be used again to extract money. The bank said I’d be able to claim back the money I had spent with the website.”
The man now believes that although the scam is known to the authorities, they may not be able to take action because those behind it may insist they are simply providing a service, including advice and posting an application form.
“The fee they charge is notably different from the official fee, so they can also claim that their customers should not mix up the two payments. But one service they didn’t provide was the appointment, which surely makes it illegal.”
Four hours after his appointment, the man walked away with a brand new UK passport*. He’s still waiting for the refund from the credit card company.
Some applicants based in the UK have hit been hit by a similar scam. One family who lost money was informed that the website they used to initiate the application was operated and owned by a Third-Party form-filling service located offshore in the Caymen Islands, conveniently beyond the reach of the English law.
*Although costlier than normal applications, the four-hour service is an excellent way for Brits to bypass the backlog and delays now affecting passport renewals. The only snag is that it is only available in the UK.
To verify all applications, call the Identity and Passport Service telephone Adviceline on 0300 222 000.
