Holidaymakers have been warned to look out for fraudsters offering fake fast-track passport services, amid delays caused by striking government workers.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has warned that scammers were using increasingly sophisticated and convincing methods to dupe potential travellers into paying for non-existent holidays and services, including quick passport renewals.
Scams include fake social media ads with pictures of holiday cottages and hotels, accompanied by “too good to be true” prices.
Often victims did not realise they had been scammed until they arrived at the airport to find their flight reservation did not exist, or at a hotel to discover there was no record of their booking.
But by this time, the scammers have taken their money and disappeared, the CTSI has warned.
CTSI lead officer Katherine Hart said: “These bogus adverts are designed to steal our money, leaving us disappointed and without a holiday.
“As with any purchase, do your research, only shop with reputable companies, and make sure you are 100% sure who you are dealing with and what you are getting before you part with any money.”
How scammers are exploiting passport delays
With disruption at the UK Passport Office caused by industrial action, the CTSI has also warned about texts and emails offering speedy passport renewals. These can cause victims to lose personal data, as well as money to fraudsters.
An adult passport renewal (when done online) costs £82.50, or £93 (if using a paper form). For children under 16, applications cost £53.50 for online and £64 by post.
Currently, an adult passport renewal can take up to ten weeks – this means even if an application were submitted today, it may not arrive back until the end of June. With summer holidays on the horizon and a potential backlog of lapsed passports from during the pandemic, holidaymakers are being urged to check their expiry date and leave plenty of time to renew ahead of any travel.
Read more: When are the Passport Office strikes and can I still renew?
If you need a passport urgently and can’t wait 10 weeks, there are normally two options available, but they do cost more.
The one-week Fast Track application service will deliver your new passport within a week of an in-person appointment at a passport office. It costs £155 for an adult passport and £126 for a child passport.
The Online Premium service is just for renewing adult passports and costs £193.50. You will get your new passport at the appointment.
But, because of strikes, the demand for these appointments outpaces their availability.
To avoid being scammed, always check the URL and security of any website and independent reviews of the website itself. When renewing a passport, only use the government’s official website.
Payment using a protected method – such as a credit card – will also offer some protection against scams.
CTSI chief executive John Herriman added: “As always, scammers are quick to leap on any opportunity to take advantage of uncertainty and upheaval.
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“The exploitation of delays brought about by Passport Office strikes are just the latest example of scammers preying on people’s vulnerability.
“People work hard and save all year round for their holidays – scammers know this, but they don’t care. We can all fight back, though, by being alert, by following a few simple guidelines, and spreading the word about the harm these scams can cause.”