THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 Page 9 BBB Scam Alert: Preparing to travel abroad? Watch out for online passport renewal scams Tips from the Better Business Bureau I f you’re traveling internationally, you might need to renew your passport. Consumers unaware of the passport renewal process might fall victim to online scams. These scams trick U.S. citizens into paying a fee to fi ll out a renewal form that is a free download on the government’s website. As a result, consumers might be tricked into providing their personal and fi - nancial information on potentially unsecure websites. U.S. citizens can now renew their passports online with the U.S. Department of State if they meet the online renewal requirements. If you do not meet the requirements, you can still renew your passport by mail. How the scam works: You have planned an exciting international trip, so you go online and search for how to renew your passport. At the top of your search results is what appears to be the U.S. passport renewal website. The website might even be listed as “sponsored.” The site tells you what forms need to be provided and that you can fi ll out the forms right there. You’re asked to provide your personal information: your social security number, home address, birth date and much more. After completing the form, you’re asked to pay a “processing fee” or an “application fee.” You’re then told that you’ll receive your completed form as a PDF in an email confi rmation. When you receive your confi rmation email with your completed PDF form, you are told that you still need to pay money for the actual renewal of your passport. At this moment, you might realize you’ve been scammed into paying to fi ll out a form instead of actually paying to renew your passport. On top of that, you might have just handed your personal and financial information over to a scammer. How to avoid similar scams • Do your research. Before renewing your passport, look up the most recent information on the renewal process. Start by checking with the U.S. government. Remember that you should not have to pay a fee to fi ll out the required forms for a passport renewal — you’ll only need to provide payment for the renewal itself. You can check the costs of passport fees in advance. • Give yourself plenty of time when renewing your passport. Processing times for passport renewals can change often. Grab this rate before it’s gone! LOCK-IN TODAY: 4.00% APY* 24-Month CD ALL DEPOSITS ARE INSURED IN FULL. *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. 419 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 771 SALEM ST. LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 331 MONTVALE AVE. WOBURN, MA 01801 EVERETTBANK.COM 617-387-1110 781-776-4444 781-281-9092 MEMBER FDIC | MEMBER DIF In addition to the indicated processing times, you should also consider the time it takes for your passport to arrive at the passport agency and then be mailed back to your home address. Check state.gov to see current processing times and plan ahead. Giving yourself plenty of time might reduce your likelihood of searching for quicker options, some of which could be scams. You can expedite your passport renewal with the U.S. government for an extra fee, but it might take several weeks. • Confi rm the website’s URL before providing sensitive information. It can be easy to click on an impostor website without noticing. Sometimes the sponsored ads at the top of your search results can lead to these fake sites. Don’t always click on the fi rst website you see. Remember, government websites end in.gov, but always take a closer look. Scammers can trick you into thinking URLs look legitimate when they aren’t. Before typing in sensitive information, check that the website and link are secure. Learn more about identifying fake websites: https://www.bbb.org/all/ spot-a-scam/how-to-identifya-fake-website • Be wary of third-party websites. There are legitimate passport assistance services, but check with BBB.org and BBB Scam Tracker fi rst to ensure you aren’t sharing your personal or fi nancial information with a scammer. For more information Are you traveling soon? BBB can help you prepare with tips (https://www.bbb.org/all/travel) and watch out for similar scams involving Trusted Traveler programs like TSA Precheck, Global Entry and NEXUS. 617-275-0700 916 Broadway, Everett, MA BUSINESS HOURS Mon - Thurs 1:00 PM-10:00 PM Fri & Sat 12:00 PM-10:30 PM Sunday 12:00 PM-10:00 PM www.cajuncorner916.com
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