I mindlessly clicked on the site thinking I would be able to renew my passport, but soon realized it was a huge mistake. The good thing was that I caught this before I entered my card information. However, I have submitted all of my personal information including my social security number. This is very worrisome. The next best thing I did was that I filed a complaint to the IC3. Stay safe everyone. Even if it means to double your research about sketchy websites.
File the website here: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
I fell for this website ending in. Org. I cant believe it I gave them every bit of information that you would need for a credit card or a loan. I called the bank to put an alert on the account, I also called experian to freeze my credit. The number is *******742.
Not helpful AT ALL! No customer service ever available. There is a number that always makes you leave a message and nobody ever calls you back. The directions leave you with more questions. Save your money and do not use this website.
You do not realize that this is a scam until the very end, when you have filled out the passport document and then have to purchase the completed document! It looks like an official government application... I am going to complain mightily to them to get a refund, and the contact the State Department!
For the third time I have been duped thinking I'm going to an official site, when it turned out someone paid some extra money to appear first in the search (USPS, Global Entry and this PassportUSA site)! This should be illegal. The official site should come up first! What did I pay for? A blank application? I thought this was for the processing of the passport. Will be asking for a refund.
Like everyone else, I clicked on what looked like the official passport renewal site. I am usually very careful and warn others about scams all the time. Now they have my information and I have spent the last hour freezing my credit. Ugh.
I thought I was renewing my passport at a legit site. I paid 38. To fill and print the document that the gov't provides for free. I called them once I realized and the credit me back. Meanwhile they have all my info!
For sure its a scam. It set up so it comes at the top of your search because its an ad but its very misleading because when you hit on it it takes you to basically filling out the information for renewing your passport. All fine and well and then they asked for a fee of $38 +1 dollar charge on your credit card. Hear youre thinking that youre paying for the renewal of the passport. It is a very well-designed site it really helps you fill out the information correctly to the point. It seems right but its not. There is no charge for downloading the application papers you still have to send them in with the check to renew your passport. Hopefully Im not compromised either. I hope somebody goes to jail over this $#*!.!
Do not pay any money. This site is misleading to say the least. I was led to believe this was the site to renew ones passport, it is not! They offered no refund of my money after learning this place is solely set up to take people's money in exchange for nothing. The forms to renew a passport are on the government website.
There is a QR code on the application that is spam for a messaging app and made the application unacceptable. I have been through hell to day because of this. Passport application printing is completely free of charge on the CORRECT gov site. This site mimics but is NOT the gov site. Called for a refund
Sadly I filled out the form... but luckily I did not get to the point where I paid them money. I realized it was a scam and deleted my form and account... though I know they probably have my data saved somewhere and I will have to keep an eye on my credit reports...
I paid the "Passport Processing Fee" of $38 and presented my receipt at the Post Office where I was completing the application process. They told me I had been scammed and that payment meant nothing to them.
If you are applying for or renewing your passport go to:
https://travel.state.gov
Which is the legitimate site that the Post Office told me about.
This is a real scam company, used it by mistake and now am afraid of ID theft, not to mention lost money for nothing
P.S. hve to admit, that later I found another cosumer's comment with their telephone number, called them and they did promise to refund me for the fee. Will see...
Passport applications are FREE, but unfortunately for me, I found out at the post office they scammed me $38. What they are doing is not illegal, but they clearly take advantage of people who dont know much about the process or first-timers. If its the first thing you see on google, its obviously advertised. BEWARE!
I though I was using the official government site and I paid $38. I sent email to this site and they responded fairly quickly. I asked if $38 will be credited towards passport application. I was told no, this their fee. I am not as concerned about their fee, as I am concerned they can use use the info for identity theft. They have everything - SS number, date of birth, address.
This is a fraudulent site. If you are on autopilot, thinking you are filling out your form online, don't. I feel like an idiot. They collect your info - fill out your credit reports if you fall for their ploy.
I, too, was taken by this deceptive company. It never occurred to me there would be a private company that would charge for forms that are publicly available. It is not until you have filled out the renewal application that a $38 charge appears. I thought it was a part of the fee for renewal.
Completed a legitimate US passport application on this site and paid the processing fee, only to learn when presenting the form at the Post Office that Passport-USA is a scam. Postal agent called and confirmed with the U.S. State Department.
Like the rest, I was fooled and didn't take notice of the. Org on the address. passportusa.org charged me $38 just for the application then I received a notice that I need to pay $110 more to process the renewal. That was when I got suspicious so I started to read the experiences of others. I now need to work to get my original passport back and try to reverse the $38 fee I paid. So disappointed in myself and these internet pirates.
I paid the $38 thinking my passport application was going to be processed as I have never had a passport before so really didn't know what to expect. After going to the city's passport application office and told them about the $38. They said it was a scam. I decided to try to get my money back. Went back to the site PassportUSA.org and contacted them via email. They responded very quickly. I told them I wanted to cancel my "subscription." She said no problem and within about 10 minutes, my money was back in my account. I asked about my information from the application and she said once the money is refunded, the account is deleted from their database. I think I would contact the credit reporting agencies just in case. I called the City's passport application office back to tell them the site that took my money and they will be contacting the state department and reporting them as fraudulent. Hopefully something can get done and people can get their money back.
Answer: Definitely a scam. Dispute the charge to your bank or credit card company.
Answer: File a Fraud Alert with any 1 of the 3 credit report bureaus as a precaution. US Gov has on-line guidance for this.
Passport-USA has a rating of 1.4 stars from 171 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers dissatisfied with Passport-USA most frequently mention post office, credit card and state gov. Passport-USA ranks 36th among Passports sites.