US travelers have been warned about online scams that could steal their personal information.
Holidaymakers have been told to watch out for domain names when sharing their data.
Travelers should be careful when trying to get or renew passport online[/caption]
The US department of state told travelers to check that the website ends with ‘gov’ to avoid scammers.
The US Dept of State Consular Affairs has shared a cautionary post on X, former Twitter, regarding passports.
The post read: “When it comes to passports, if the website url is “.com” it’s not us! Our website ends in “.gov”.
“Avoid paying extra fees or sharing your private information on third-party sites.”
Citizens have been advised to go directly to http://travel.state.gov/passport website for passport renewals.
Scammers pose as official government websites with similar names, flags, logos and other attributes but often have a “com” domain.
Fraudsters charge people anywhere from $60 to a few hundred dollars on top of a passport fee to expedite the application process.
According to the government officials, there are no paid services to get your passport quicker.
Although there is a fee to get a passport, the state department said that application forms and other services such as setting up an appointment are free.
Citizens should also double-check the website before entering their personal information as some scammers sell it to identity thieves.
If anyone tries to collect a payment for forms or appointment, or seems suspicious, travelers should report them to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
BOARDING PASS WARNING
Travelers have also been told to keep their boarding pass even after they left the plane.
Experts say ditching the document too soon could see your luggage go walkies or even spark security mayhem.
Jet-setters heading off on their hols this summer might think their boarding pass is just a golden ticket to the skies – but there’s a lot more lurking on that little slip than just your seat number and gate.
Hidden among the letters and numbers are secret codes that tell airport staff everything from your booking details to your boarding priority – and even how much you paid for your ticket.
Top travel gurus and security whizzes are urging holidaymakers to hang on to their paper boarding passes – even after they’ve touched down.
That’s because the humble ticket holds a treasure trove of personal info – and in the wrong hands, it could lead to scams, hacked accounts and stolen identities.
Experts from the likes of Condé Nast Traveler and cyber sleuth Brian Krebs say crooks can scan the codes on dumped passes to dig up booking details, frequent flyer numbers and even access airline accounts.
