Scam Passport Websites Are Stealing Your Money — Here's What to Do
Fake government-lookalike passport sites are charging hundreds. One reader lost $185 and wants it back.
If you've ever Googled 'passport renewal' and clicked the first result, you may have already handed your money to a scammer. These copycat websites mimic official U.S. government pages closely enough to fool plenty of smart people — and one MarketWatch reader just learned that lesson the hard way, dropping $185 on a site that had zero authority to process any passport application.
Here's the hard truth: the only legitimate portal for U.S. passport services is the official State Department website. Third-party sites that charge 'processing fees' or 'expediting charges' on top of official government costs are, at best, unnecessary middlemen and, at worst, outright fraud. Once you've handed over your credit card number, getting that money back is an uphill battle — but not an impossible one.
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Your first move is a credit card chargeback. Call your card issuer immediately, explain the charge was for services never rendered or misrepresented, and file a dispute. Speed matters — most issuers have tight windows for dispute eligibility. The reader in this story plans to escalate to the Better Business Bureau, which is a reasonable step for creating a paper trail, though the BBB has no enforcement power on its own.
For real teeth, file a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general's consumer protection office. These agencies actively pursue deceptive-trade-practice cases. You should also flag the site to Google so it gets pulled from search results and stops reeling in the next victim.
Bottom line: bookmark travel.state.gov before you need it. Passport season gets frantic, and scammers know you're rushing. Don't let urgency cost you $185 — or more. Continue reading at MarketWatch.com
