Passport scams surge as summer travel plans ramp up in Connecticut
The Connecticut Better Business Bureau says it has already received more than 750 reports of passport scams this year.
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If you’re planning a trip abroad this summer, now is the time to think about getting or renewing your passport.
But there are scams out there.
The Connecticut Better Business Bureau says it has already received more than 750 reports of passport scams this year.
There are many phony websites that can scam you.
It can take six weeks to get a passport, so many people rushing to get one may find a website that claims it can get it faster.
These scams trick people into paying a fee to fill out a form that is a free download on the U.S. State Department’s website.
As a result, consumers may be misled into providing their personal and financial information on potentially unsecured websites.
BBB Connecticut offers these tips for renewal:
Do thorough research.
Allow ample processing time.
Verify website URLs.
That way, you won’t lose your personal information.
“We’re talking Social Security numbers, information about your parents, name changes — all of that is now in the hands of scammers, and that’s really scary because a lot of our information, thanks to data breaches, is already out there, and all they need is a couple more pieces of that puzzle to fit it all together and steal our identities,” said Kristen Johnson with BBB Connecticut.
While there is a charge to get a passport, the forms themselves are free. Appointments with the State Department’s passport centers are also free. You can also apply for a passport at the post office.
Click here to report a scam.
