Fraud Alerts/PSAs
February 24, 2017: A Senior’s Dream Vacation Can Turn into a Nightmare with the Tourist Visa Scam
Seniors who have saved up for years to take a vacation abroad could arrive at their dream destination only to find that they have been conned.
In the Tourist Visa Scam, unsuspecting seniors seeking information about travel destinations are lured onto bogus websites offering fake documents for a fee.
Once payment information is entered, travelers receive confirmation e-mails and official-looking paperwork only to arrive at their vacation spot to find a visa was not required.
TIPS:
- Use official government websites which typically end with .gov and not .com or .net
- Use the portal created for Americans traveling abroad: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html
- Always verify visa requirements at the destination country’s official website
Assistant Head Deputy Marc Beaart with the Cyber Crime Division explains the scam in the following video: http://vimeo.com/205309440.
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