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For many frequent travelers, preparation for a trip involves renewing their enrollment in Trusted Traveler programs, such as TSA precheck or Global Entry in the United States and NEXUS in Canada. Scammers are on to this trend! According to recent BBB Scam Tracker reports, con artists are creating lookalike websites in an attempt to trick you out of personal information and money.
How the scam works
You do a web search for one of the programs above that are designed to help speed known travelers through airport security. Your web browser displays a list of results. The official website likely appears high on the list. But also included are websites designed to look just like the official one.
When you click on the website, you find a third-party company that either impersonates the government department or offers to do all the paperwork for you. These sites may charge you the cost of the application fee, plus a hefty service fee to cover the cost of their “help.” In addition, you’ll be asked to fill out forms with sensitive, personal information including your full name, passport number, and home address.
Even if you pay up, the company may never submit your application form through the correct channels. You may have lost money and shared your personal information with scammers.
Consumers told BBB Scam Tracker that the websites are very convincing. “When I clicked on the link, it appeared to be an official TSA Precheck site,” one victim reported. “This company asked for all the information I would expect to provide in the process… including your full name, passport number, and home address. Then, you are prompted to pay $140, making it seem I was paying for the TSA fee.”
Another consumer shared, "I applied for Global Entry through this site, it looked suspicious as it costs $100 more than the typical Global Entry application fee, but it looked like a legitimate website. I realized afterwards that this was a scam and was able to receive a full refund and reported it to my bank. While I was able to receive a full refund, this company now has my personal information."
Protect yourself from phony websites
- Double-check the URL before you enter personal and payment information. Always double-check that you are on the right website and that the link is secure. Don't always trust the websites you see from a web search. Secure links start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase page. In the United States, all government websites end in “.gov.” In Canada, government agency websites are under gc.ca. If you're unsure about the website you're on, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website directly instead of starting with a web search.
- Make online purchases with your credit card. Never give your payment information to a stranger or suspicious website online. If you choose to make a payment, use a credit card. Fraudulent charges made on a credit card can usually be disputed. Unfortunately, there is no way to get back the personal information you may have shared.
For more information
To learn more about protecting yourself from scams, read up on lookalike websites and see the BBB article, “10 Steps to Avoid Scams.” Read about a similar scam involving passport renewals. Also, this BBB page has advice for planning travel.
If you have been the victim of a phony website scam, help others avoid falling prey to similar scams by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker.