Michigan Travelers Targeted by New Passport Renewal Scam

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a scam warning for Michigan travelers.

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The scam, which has already happened to people in Michigan, targets those who are looking to get a passport as well as those who currently have one but would like to get it renewed.

While searching online, they end up landing on a fraudulent website that charged them for something that is already free.

How The Passport Scam Works

According to the BBB, a website called USPassportandVisa.org launched earlier in January of this year and has already received 78 reports of fraud.

The website claims to help with the travel process, but what they are really doing is charging victims $88 to supposedly expedite important travel documents, when in reality it just sends them a PDF passport application that can be found for free online.

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What To Look For When Getting A Passport

Do research: Verify passport renewal procedures directly through the U.S. government’s official channels.

Allow processing time: Plan ahead and consult the U.S. Department of State for current processing estimates to prevent rushing into potentially fraudulent quick-fix options.

Verify websites: Official government websites end in .gov. Exercise caution with sponsored ads or suspicious URLs that mimic legitimate sites. Ensure websites are secure before entering personal information.

Avoid third-party services: Utilize BBB.org and BBB Scam Tracker to verify legitimacy before sharing sensitive information online.

Report scams: If you encounter or fall victim to a scam, help others by reporting it promptly to BBB Scam Tracker.