Passport Application scam

wealdroam

And just to add to Forgotmyname's point...

If you don't want to see the paid for adverts at the top of search engine results lists, then consider using AdBlockPlus.

Best of all it's free and will banish most adverts from all over the internet.

pmduk

I searched google last night for the passport renewal site and all of the complained-about ads appeared, but were very clearly marked as such.

jeff_chandler

I have received 3 e mails today from the fraudsters explaining their actions and to be honest it looked as if it had been typed by a child.
I have done some research into this scam and was pointed in the direction of `Action Fraud`. I took advantage of a free consultation with a solicitor who said it was out of his area of expertise but a fraud company would deal with it. The solicitor kindly rang `Action Fraud` where I explained what had occurred. Before I even got to the point they knew exactly what I was talking about and told me to ignore their threats. These people bully the vulnerable into submition with a tirade of e mails, phone calls and text messages.

I hope this can be of help to those foolish enough like myself to be conned by these money grabbing arrogant ********

ziggyd

Hi all

My 18 year old son has just found out he has been scammed by the same website passport. net but it has appeared on his bank statement as passport the west tisted

The first I knew about it was a printed passport application form arrived in the post and I immediately became suspicious. The refund department say they need an ID number but he never received any email from them so no ID reference.

I have sent them a screen shot of his bank statement showing that they took £72.50. This seems an excessive amount and as it is the same as the cost of a new passport I can see why he got confused

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do? I would be happy if he got at least some of the money back. I have pointed out to him that he should have read the T &C's and I believe he has learnt a hard lesson but it really does seem to be an excessive charge for just printing out an application form!

Thanks

Pollycat

ziggyd wrote: »

Hi all

My 18 year old son has just found out he has been scammed by the same website passport. net but it has appeared on his bank statement as passport the west tisted

The first I knew about it was a printed passport application form arrived in the post and I immediately became suspicious. The refund department say they need an ID number but he never received any email from them so no ID reference.

I have sent them a screen shot of his bank statement showing that they took £72.50. This seems an excessive amount and as it is the same as the cost of a new passport I can see why he got confused

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do? I would be happy if he got at least some of the money back. I have pointed out to him that he should have read the T &C's and I believe he has learnt a hard lesson but it really does seem to be an excessive charge for just printing out an application form!

Thanks

Has your son (or you) read the T&Cs about refunds?

Some of these websites (but not all) do offer a refund - usually minus an admin fee - if you contact them in the right way and give them the information they ask for.

Worth a try.

DCFC79

ziggyd wrote: »

Hi all

My 18 year old son has just found out he has been scammed by the same website passport. net but it has appeared on his bank statement as passport the west tisted

The first I knew about it was a printed passport application form arrived in the post and I immediately became suspicious. The refund department say they need an ID number but he never received any email from them so no ID reference.

I have sent them a screen shot of his bank statement showing that they took £72.50. This seems an excessive amount and as it is the same as the cost of a new passport I can see why he got confused

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do? I would be happy if he got at least some of the money back. I have pointed out to him that he should have read the T &C's and I believe he has learnt a hard lesson but it really does seem to be an excessive charge for just printing out an application form!

Thanks

Did your son read the front page of the website concerned as I bet it would have something like "this is not the official site for website applications"

Caz3121

The front page of the side says

"Our service is not connected to or affiliated with the Passport Office or any UK Government department. Our service fee is set out in our terms and conditions and is payable on completion of the form on this website, but you will not be required to pay the passport application fee until you receive and return the printed copy of your application from IPS. The information on this website may also be available without charge from other sources."

re fees in the Ts&Cs

"We charge a service fee of £72.50 for completing the online passport application process. You may cancel your application for our service at any time up until we have processed your application and completed our service. If you cancel before we have processed your application, we will issue a full refund. If the application has been processed we will refund the full payment less a £8.00 administration fee
If you wish to exercise your right to cancel, please contact us in writing (email is best), as follows:"

sandrah115

I am ashamed to say that I have been conned out of £75.50 for a passport application form. I am at this moment angry as when I contacted the firm they have stated they provided me with a service - which was to fill in my sons details on a passport renewal form. They sent me emails stating my sons passport application had been started, they sent my son text messages informing him his application for a passport renewal had started... All lies. I cannot believe that there is nothing that cannot be done to stop these misleading companies collecting huge amounts of money for nothing. Is there anything I can do?:(

DevCoder

sandrah115 wrote: »

I am ashamed to say that I have been conned out of £75.50 for a passport application form. I am at this moment angry as when I contacted the firm they have stated they provided me with a service - which was to fill in my sons details on a passport renewal form. They sent me emails stating my sons passport application had been started, they sent my son text messages informing him his application for a passport renewal had started... All lies. I cannot believe that there is nothing that cannot be done to stop these misleading companies collecting huge amounts of money for nothing. Is there anything I can do?:(

The passport renewal and application had been started, they helped you in the process.

Yes it's a scam (of sorts), no there isn't much you can do except take it as a lesson learned and be aware that google results will place paid for ads above the search results.

wealdroam

sandrah115 wrote: »

I am ashamed to say that I have been conned out of £75.50 for a passport application form. I am at this moment angry as when I contacted the firm they have stated they provided me with a service - which was to fill in my sons details on a passport renewal form. They sent me emails stating my sons passport application had been started, they sent my son text messages informing him his application for a passport renewal had started... All lies. I cannot believe that there is nothing that cannot be done to stop these misleading companies collecting huge amounts of money for nothing. Is there anything I can do?:(

Well, one thing you could do is read the post immediately before yours.

There you will see that they say they will refund all the money you have paid except an £8.00 admin fee.

Looks good to me.