High riskGovernment & Tax

Visa Application Scam

In this scam, third-party websites pose as official visa or travel authorisation services (such as ESTA, ETA, or eTA), charging inflated fees, adding bogus services, or harvesting your passport and payment details.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Government service impersonation
Main red flag
A non-official visa or travel authorisation site charging high fees for your application.
What to do first
Apply only through the official government immigration website.

How this scam works

In this scam, third-party websites pose as official visa or travel authorisation services (such as ESTA, ETA, or eTA), charging inflated fees, adding bogus services, or harvesting your passport and payment details.

Government and tax scams impersonate tax authorities, police, or agencies, using threats of arrest, fines, or deportation to force fast payment, often via gift cards, transfers, or crypto. Real agencies do not demand instant payment this way or threaten arrest by phone.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A non-official visa or travel authorisation site charging high fees for your application. Apply only through the official government immigration website.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Immigration Scam and the Passport Renewal Scam. See the full Government, Tax & Legal Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A non-official site offering to process visas or travel authorisations
  • Fees far above the official price
  • Search ads posing as official services
  • Requests for passport and payment details
  • Vague or no official affiliation

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Get your travel authorisation fast! Apply here for a fee far above the official price: [non-official site]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A non-official visa or travel authorisation site charging high fees for your application.

The scale of it

$2.7B
reported lost to imposter scams in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Gift cards
a top payment method scammers demand, which real agencies never use
Source: FTC Consumer Advice

How to protect yourself

  • Apply only through the official government immigration website
  • Find the official site directly rather than via ads
  • Check the official fee before paying
  • Report impersonating sites to the authority

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you overpaid, dispute the charge with your bank
  • If you shared passport details, monitor for identity misuse
  • Verify whether your application was actually submitted
  • Report the site and keep evidence

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not apply through non-official visa sites
  • Do not pay inflated fees for travel authorisations
  • Do not share passport details on unverified sites

Related scams to know

High risk Government & Tax

Immigration Scam

This scam involves a caller or message posing as an immigration or border agency that threatens deportation, visa cancellation, or arrest over a supposed problem with your status. The aim is to frighten you into making an immediate payment or handing over passport and personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Government & Tax

Passport Renewal Scam

This scam uses copycat websites that imitate official passport renewal, visa, or travel authorisation services. They often appear in search results and adverts, look professional, and charge inflated fees for help with an application you could complete yourself. Some collect your card and personal details and never properly submit the application. Reaching the genuine government service directly, rather than through an advert or search link, is the safest way to renew a passport or apply for a visa.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Government & Tax

Vital Records Scam

In this scam, third-party websites pose as official vital records services for birth, marriage, or death certificates, charging inflated fees, adding hidden subscriptions, or harvesting personal data without delivering documents.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Where should I apply for a visa or travel authorisation?
Only through the official government immigration website for the destination, found directly rather than via search ads, to avoid inflated fees and scams.
Why do these sites charge more?
Third-party sites add inflated fees for 'assistance', and some are scams that harvest your passport and payment details without submitting anything.
I used a non-official site. What now?
Dispute any overcharge with your bank, monitor for identity misuse, verify whether your application was submitted, and report the site.
How do I find the official site?
Search the official government immigration domain for the destination country and verify the official fee before paying.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.