Be careful when you’re renewing your US Passport.
That’s from Wisconsin DATCP Administrator Michelle Reinen after speaking on the WCUB Breakfast Club.
Reinen explained that scammers try to take your money by making you pay for documents that you must fill out to get a passport.
Reinen says there could be official looking websites when you search to get a new passport or renew one.
“Some of the websites are just private companies that are going to charge for that service that you can do yourself for free at the US Department of State website and then provide your application fee that exists,” she explained.
However, Reinen says other websites are just scamming you.
“Some of them say that they’re going to charge anywhere from $60 to a few hundred dollars, plus that regular passport fee, and then they promise they’re going to help you,” Reinen described.
“But really they’re going to take your money and get your personal information as well because you need to fill out that application that contains a lot of personal information.”
To prevent yourself from being scammed, Reinen recommends going to the US State Department website for most passport needs.
You can also make an appointment with a state department group, such as at a Post Office, to help get your passport renewed, although it might take some time to get an appointment.
You can find more information at travel.state.gov.
