ESTA scam site

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82097113#Comment_82097113

Check my post above regarding being allowed to operate.

OFT investigated websites like this years ago, way back in 2010.

QUOTE:

The OFT found that in most instances the sites investigated carried statements explaining the nature of the service provided and disclaiming any official status or affiliation with the government.

QUOTE:

the OFT has concluded that potential for significant consumer detriment is low and there is insufficient evidence of breaches of consumer protection legislation to warrant prioritising formal enforcement action in this instance.

 

It may reconsider its decision in the future if it receives further evidence of suspected infringements, or its prioritisation assessment changes.

If anyone feels that these websites need further investigation, they should get in touch with OFT.

eskbanker

Apart from the fact that OFT hasn't existed for twelve years, there's no point in contacting one of its successors about a US website that's outside their jurisdiction!

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82097310#Comment_82097310

It wasn't really a serious suggestion… 🤨

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82097113#Comment_82097113

The one being discussed here though has plenty of visible warnings. At what point do we stop people using the internet unless they can prove they understand the necessity of reading what they are signing up to?

Pollycat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82097341#Comment_82097341

It's called personal responsibility.

People need to understand that the internet is not the safe, fluffy, friendly place they think it is.

Check before you give away your hard-earned money.

TELLIT01

Google were being encouraged to remove copycat sites of UK Government ones, but that would not apply to sites copying official sites of other countries.

In this specific case I don't think the site could have made the situation any clearer. It is certainly not a scam site.

user1977

As for ID theft, I'm not aware of any of these sites being linked to ID theft. I suspect you're more at risk of having your passport details fraudulently copied by e.g. a dodgy member of staff at a hotel.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82096648#Comment_82096648

What do you think that would achieve anyway? For most ID checks a bank or lender has no way of validating if a passport has been reported lost, stolen or cancelled, there was a pilot circa 2020 but it never went anywhere. Presumably all they have is the details of the passport, not actually an image of it, and most banks these days want an image plus a video of the holder of the passport to do its validity.

There is no public evidence that this firm does anything other than overcharge for a service. Unfortunately there is also no public record of where the company is really based as their address is a registrar and their chosen state doesnt require ownership of companies to be made public. Whilst there is no obvious intent there may be a cyber security question.

michael1234

Whether or not these sites are "scam" sites is really just semantics. I suppose these sites are similar to ticket touts. Ticket touts also (usually) provide a service. In fact they provide a better service than these "copycat" sites as the tickets that the touts sell are typically not available to purchase anywhere else. On the other hand, these garbage sites provide no service at all and exist solely to rip people off. I'm always surprised at the difference in opinion between the forum and the main site here.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098809#Comment_82098809

I don't think anyone approves of them, but the broad term 'scam' covers a spectrum of possibilities, some of which are illegal or fraudulent, while others are perhaps distasteful but on the right side of the law. Sites like this are towards the latter end of that scale, so while you may dismiss it as semantics, it's actually quite an important distinction when it comes to the potential for action such as recovering money.