Fake ETA/eVisa Travel Authorization Scam
Fraudulent websites mimic official electronic travel authorization or eVisa application portals, charging travelers inflated or entirely fake fees for a document that is either never delivered or freely available at low cost from the real government site.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
What this scam is
Many countries now require travelers to obtain an electronic travel authorization or eVisa before arrival, applied for entirely online and often at a modest official fee. This scam exploits the fact that most travelers do not know the government's exact website address and instead search for it, landing on convincing imitation sites built specifically to intercept that traffic.
These fake portals copy official branding, form fields, and even multi-step application flows to feel legitimate, then charge fees far above the real cost or take payment for a service that is never actually rendered. Some operate as unauthorized 'visa agencies' that are technically legal but misleadingly priced, while others are outright fraudulent and deliver nothing.
The distinction that matters to travelers is that the authentic application should always be completed on the destination government's own domain, at the government's published price, and any third-party site charging noticeably more or appearing through a paid advertisement should be treated with suspicion.
How it works
The scam relies almost entirely on search engine visibility. Fraudulent or misleadingly priced sites buy advertising space so they appear above or alongside the genuine government result when a traveler searches for terms like 'eVisa application' or 'travel authorization.' The fake site's design, from the color scheme to the government seal, is built to look authoritative at a glance.
The traveler enters passport number, travel dates, and payment details into a form that mimics the real application. The fee charged is typically several times the actual government fee, disguised as a processing or service charge, though some versions are pure fraud that simply take the payment. After submission, a confirmation email may be sent that looks official but carries no actual legal weight, or in worse cases nothing is sent at all.
Because the traveler often does not attempt to verify the document until arriving at the airport or border, the fraud can go undetected for weeks, by which point the payment is long settled and the operator, if outright fraudulent, may have already shut down the site or moved on to a new domain.
Why this scam works
Applicants are usually unfamiliar with what the real government portal's web address should look like and reasonably assume that a professional-looking site appearing near the top of a search is legitimate, especially since some travel authorization processes genuinely do involve third-party visa agencies for other services. The pressure of an upcoming trip and unfamiliarity with the destination country's exact requirements makes people move quickly rather than compare prices or double check the domain.
A typical pattern
A traveler planning an upcoming trip searches online for the electronic travel authorization or eVisa their destination requires. Among the search results is a website with an official-looking flag, seal, and layout that closely resembles a government page, ranking near the top through paid advertising. The traveler fills out a form with passport details, trip information, and payment, believing they are on the country's real application portal. The site charges a fee well above the actual government cost, sometimes framed as covering 'service' or 'expedited processing.' In some cases, the traveler receives a document that looks plausible but is not recognized at the border, and in others, the payment is taken and nothing is ever emailed. The traveler discovers the problem either when a confirmation never arrives, when the real government portal shows no record of an application, or when they are questioned at immigration control on arrival.
Common red flags
- Fee is significantly higher than the country's publicly stated official cost.
- Website reached through a paid advertisement rather than a direct government link.
- Domain name includes extra words or a different suffix than the official government site.
- No official confirmation number that matches the government's own tracking system.
- Upsells for 'guaranteed approval,' 'expedited processing,' or bundled insurance.
- Poor grammar or inconsistent branding despite an otherwise official appearance.
- No verifiable customer service address or phone number tied to the government.
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Apply for your Electronic Travel Authorization now - fast approval, service fee [amount].
Your eVisa application is incomplete. Pay an additional [amount] to avoid travel delays.
Guaranteed approval eVisa processing in 1 hour - premium service [amount].
Your travel authorization payment failed. Re-enter your card details to complete your application.
Common variations
- Paid search ad site that charges triple or more the official government fee for a genuine-sounding service.
- Site that takes payment and never sends any confirmation or document at all.
- Fake 'expedited' or 'guaranteed approval' add-on fee layered on top of an already inflated base price.
- Lookalike domain using a country name plus 'evisa' or 'eta' that is not the official government domain.
- Phishing version that harvests passport and payment data for identity theft rather than processing anything.
- Fake customer support line that upsells unnecessary travel insurance or additional documents once contacted.
How to verify before you act
Before applying, look up the destination country's official government or immigration ministry domain from a trusted, independent source such as a national foreign travel advisory page, and navigate there directly rather than clicking a search result or advertisement. Compare the fee shown on the site against the government's officially published amount; any markup of more than a modest service charge is a sign of an unauthorized or fraudulent operator.
If a confirmation has already been received, check its authenticity against the government's own application tracking tool where available, and contact the relevant embassy or consulate to confirm a filing exists if there is any doubt before travel.
Payment methods used
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Online payment form
Who is usually targeted
- International travelers unfamiliar with a destination's entry requirements
- First-time visitors to a country with a new electronic authorization system
- Travelers booking trips close to departure under time pressure
- People searching generically rather than navigating directly to a government site
What to do immediately
- Go directly to the destination government's official website to check if a real application exists.
- Contact your card issuer to dispute the charge if the site was not the official government portal.
- Reapply through the verified official channel well before travel if no legitimate authorization exists.
- Save all payment confirmations and correspondence from the suspicious site.
- Report the fraudulent or misleading site to your national consumer protection agency.
- Warn travel companions or family members who may have used the same site.
How to prevent it
- Search for the destination country's official immigration or foreign affairs website address from a trusted source before applying.
- Compare any fee charged against the government's officially published price before paying.
- Be wary of any site reached through a paid search advertisement rather than an organic government result.
- Look for the correct government domain suffix and avoid sites with extra words tacked onto a country name.
- Apply well in advance of travel so there is time to notice and correct any problem.
- Use a credit card rather than a debit card or bank transfer when applying, for better dispute protection.
- Confirm the application in the government's own tracking or confirmation system if one is provided.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot of the website used to apply
- Payment confirmation and card statement entry
- Any confirmation email received
- The exact URL and advertisement that led to the site
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 real government eVisa site?
Search for the destination country's official government or immigration ministry domain from a trusted travel resource, or check your home country's foreign travel advisory page, rather than clicking the first search result.
Is every third-party visa agency a scam?
No, some are legitimate paid services that charge a markup for convenience, but travelers should always compare the price to the official government fee and decide knowingly rather than by accident.
What if I already paid an inflated fee and got a valid document?
If the authorization is genuinely valid and recognized at the border, you likely overpaid for a legitimate service rather than being defrauded outright, though you can still dispute the markup with your card issuer.
Can I still travel if I fell for this scam?
Check the official government portal immediately; if no real authorization was ever filed, apply directly through the correct channel as soon as possible before your trip.