If you need to get or renew a passport and aren’t familiar with the process, you may fall victim to a scam. The BBB and FTC are warning about websites that appear to be the official government website for passport services, but are really private companies that charge fees for services that are free from the government. Or they’re out-and-out scams looking to steal your money or information, or both.

They may create fake ads on social media, send texts and emails promoting their services, or pay to have their websites appear near the top of an online search for passport services. Fake websites may use the same layout, color scheme, and official sounding language as real government websites, along with fake seals that look real.

One consumer who landed on a non-government site said, “I am a senior citizen who thought I was renewing my passport application. This website appeared to me to be the official website for passport renewal. I input all my private personal information. I was charged $89 . When I got the email from this company, I realized I had been scammed. I received NOTHING for this charged amount. They are not the US Government and their service does nothing to help one apply for a passport. I have no need to download their forms and print them. I can do the same thing with the US Government website.”

Do your research before obtaining or renewing your passport. Look up the most recent information on the process and check with the U.S. government to confirm if online services are available. Remember that you shouldn’t have to pay a fee to fill out the required forms for a passport– you’ll only need to provide payment for the passport itself.

Allow plenty of time when applying for or renewing your passport; processing times can change often. In addition to the indicated processing times, you should also consider the time it takes for your passport to arrive at the passport agency and then be mailed to your home address. Check on current processing times. Giving yourself plenty of time may negate your need to search for quicker options that could be scams. You can expedite your passport with the U.S. government for an extra fee, but it may take several weeks.

Confirm the website’s URL before providing sensitive information. It can be easy to click on a sponsored ad or an impostor website without noticing that it’s not a government site. Remember, government websites end in .gov, but always take a closer look. Scammers can trick you into thinking URLs look legitimate when they aren’t. Before typing in sensitive information, check that the website and link are secure. 

There are legitimate passport assistance services, but check with BBB.org and BBB Scam Tracker first to ensure you aren’t sharing your personal or financial information with a scammer. If you can only pay via a wire transfer, prepaid debit or gift card, cash app, or cryptocurrency, it’s almost certainly a scam. The State Department doesn’t charge for appointments or work with booking agencies, so being asked to pay a fee for an appointment to get or renew your passport is a scam.

Travel.State.Gov is the official government website for passport services.