Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.
Scamming - Fraud
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.
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/.
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Just got conned by esta-registration.co.uk out of £64.80 for two ESTAs which should have cost roughly £21.30 at today’s exchange rate. What a mug I feel!
that they now have my address bank and passport numbershould I be worried about id theft?yes I did contact my bank...yes I am a numpty
I don't think that is enough information to steal your identity.
I would like to suggest to the travelers who are traveling to USA not to apply through the following websites and don't let them loot your money.I applied to visa through a third party website then I found without showing me the amount they charge they looted $92 from my card. I also listen from traveler the same be careful while you apply from online.I found all the below websites charge more than $70 and they will simply mention that they included government and service charge:hxxps://www.esta-registration.co.uk/hxxps://www.esta.us/uk.htmhxxps://www.estaonline.comhxxps://www.official-esta.com/hxxps://www.moneysavingexpert.comhxxps://www.esta.iehxxps://www.immigrationfirst.comhxxps://en.usa-esta.us/hxxps://www.usavisaonline.comhxxps://estavisa.com.auhxxps://www.electronicesta.com
