When applying online for an ESTA visa be aware that there are some very clever frauds out there. They use an almost identical website designed to look like the real one and cost three times as much. It should only be US$14 as of August 2015. The scammers operating the fraudulent websites send you a certificate, but when you check it, it doesn't exist, you have lost your money, and have given your credit card details to a very good con artist. And, be careful because the scammers also have a website for checking the application number to make their websites appear legitimate. This is one of the websites to avoid - www.esta-registration.co.uk.
The website www.esta-registration.co.uk supposedly belongs to a company named Sherpatec with offices in Munich, Geneva, Hong Kong etc but it is a total fraud - no email address works. Please be careful - this is an extremely clever operation.
Online users who have already submitted their credit card information on the fraudulent website are asked to contact their banks for help immediately. They should let their banks know that they have used their credit card on a fraudulent website. They should also check their credit card statements for unauthorized transactions and report them to their banks.
What is an ESTA?
International travelers who are seeking to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are now subject to enhanced security requirements and will have to pay an administrative fee. All eligible travelers who plan to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for travel authorization. For this reason, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced an electronic method - ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). We recommend applying for ESTA 72 hours prior to departure.
For more information about ESTA, click or visit the following link: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.