Passport scams on the rise amid logjam of applications

Adds the State Department: “We are not affiliated with any third-party appointment booking services, and we do not charge a fee to make an appointment." On the eve of the shutdown, the

Better Business Bureau issued a warning saying scammers had been posing as passport expeditors. “Along with money losses in these scams, passports contain critical personal information that

unlocks identity theft for years to come,” says Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. The sales took place on online forums,

Facebook and other sites, he says. This year through July 27, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center has received approximately 45 complaints about web domains offering passport

processing, such as applications and renewals, officials say. Total losses surpassed $1,600, with individual losses in the range of $45 to $70, they say, warning: “Potentially worse than the

financial loss is the potential for identity theft after the victim has input their personal information into one of these fraudulent domains thinking they are applying for a passport.”

According to Bernas, there are legitimate passport expeditors — and they, too, have been hurt by the backlog. But many of the scams arise “from overseas with any scammer being able to create

phony messages, emails, websites, Facebook posts, pop-up ads, etc.,” Bernas says. AARP HELPLINE LOGS REPORTS OF PASSPORT FRAUD AARP's FraudWatch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, has

fielded complaints about passport fraud. Amy Nofziger, who oversees the helpline, says the complaints about passport, rental car and other travel issues are on the uptick. A Los Angeles

woman called the helpline after visiting a passport website with a legitimate-sounding name. She gave up her Social Security and credit card numbers and bank account information. Only after

completing an online “application” did she realize she had revealed too much information. Passport applications do not ask for banking information. Take a look at the applications for a 

first-time passport and a renewal. According to the State Department, acceptable ways to pay passport fees vary based on whether the application is made by mail, at a passport acceptance

facility or with a passport agency.