Fake Visa Services
Sites and agents charging inflated or bogus fees for visas, ETAs and travel authorisations.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Fake visa services pose as official or authorised visa providers, charging high fees for applications you could make cheaply yourself — or taking money and documents for visas that are never issued.
How it works
Ranking high in search ads, these sites mimic government portals. They charge inflated 'service fees', collect your passport and personal data, and may submit nothing or submit incorrectly, risking your travel and identity.
Common red flags
- Not the official government immigration domain
- Fees far above the official visa cost
- Requests for passport scans and personal data upfront
- Vague or absent refund and support policies
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Official [country] eVisa portal — fast-track approval. Pay [amount] service fee and upload your passport.
Payment methods used
- Card
- Bank transfer
Who is usually targeted
- International travellers
- Tourists
- Migrant workers
What to do immediately
- Use only the official government immigration website
- If charged or compromised, contact your bank and watch for identity theft
- Report the fake service
Evidence to preserve
- Site URL and receipts
- Documents submitted
- Correspondence
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the official visa site?
Start from the destination government's official immigration or foreign affairs website (often a .gov domain). Be wary of search ads and 'fast-track' portals charging large service fees.