used scam ESTA website now what?

[Sdtravel]

Please move if this isnt the place

My parent just used a scan ESTA website official-esta.com‏ yesterday and paid US$95
I thought they had been to the US before had let them do it on their own.

Suggestions on how to clean this up or has anyone got any experience on this subject / scammer?
I have asked them to contact the bank to stop the payment either credit card or bank transfer dont know yet

Should i be more worried and ask them to get a new passport?
or even more worried and ask them to get a new credit card / bank account?
The only issue is they leave next friday so getting all this in the next 7 days is going to be a huge effort as i thought rush passports are 7 days processing anyway and you need that to get the ESTA anyway?
Thoughts on how concerned i should be. There is nothing i can do about the identity theft stuff that has been given out already.

I assume we still have to get a real esta now as well

 

[robd]

Please move if this isnt the place

My parent just used a scan ESTA website official-esta.com‏ yesterday and paid US$95
I thought they had been to the US before had let them do it on their own.

Suggestions on how to clean this up or has anyone got any experience on this subject / scammer?
I have asked them to contact the bank to stop the payment either credit card or bank transfer dont know yet

Should i be more worried and ask them to get a new passport?
or even more worried and ask them to get a new credit card / bank account?
The only issue is they leave next friday so getting all this in the next 7 days is going to be a huge effort as i thought rush passports are 7 days processing anyway and you need that to get the ESTA anyway?
Thoughts on how concerned i should be. There is nothing i can do about the identity theft stuff that has been given out already.

I assume we still have to get a real esta now as well

Did they receive a confirmation number? Generally, it is probable they will receive a genuine ESTA, so if they have an email or confirmation number, they can check it on the real site by entering the number. I think you can also check the status on the real site by entering your passport number.

The scam is the amount paid.

 

[Sdtravel]

Will check if they got a real one. I read on here that someone suggested that if it did go through its not like they can cancel itif we get the money back.

More concerned with passport and credit card at present. Thoughts?

 

[robd]

Will check if they got a real one. I read on here that someone suggested that if it did go through its not like they can cancel itif we get the money back.

More concerned with passport and credit card at present. Thoughts?

Just keep an eye on it. IMO it wouldn't make sense for them to hack the card. YMMV.

 

[blackcat20]

Essentially they've paid a fee for someone to apply for the ESTA for them.

 

[Sdtravel]

I understand that bit. They may or may not have an esta. will have to wait an see if they send through an actual confirmation or not.
Just wondering about identity theft and if its worth getting a new passport since it will be very last minute rush now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

While I'm sure there are probably fraudulent ESTA sites around, there are also those that will 'facilitate' an ESTA for a fee. Much the same as some visa companies will arrange visas for a hefty premium over what you could do yourself.

If it is a 'facilitation' company, check they have received a valid ESTA. And probably no recourse to cancel the payment if the charges were clear upfront... you have legally requested that company to do the work for you, and they have.

I would not be concerned about a new passport. You parents have the physical document. Passport fraud generally requires a physical document in order to be altered. If identity theft is going to occur, it will be the details such as name, DOB etc etc. Things that won't change by issuing a new passport.

If you are concerned about the credit card, you should monitor it on-line in real time and look for unauthorised changes in available balance (pending authorisations) which will show whether someone else is using the card.

 

[harvyk]

I understand that bit. They may or may not have an esta. will have to wait an see if they send through an actual confirmation or not.
Just wondering about identity theft and if its worth getting a new passport since it will be very last minute rush now.

Identify theft would be a concern,

Check out CBP's own advice if accidentally going through 3rd party sites -> https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1164/~/esta--ive-been-charged-more-than-$14.00-for-esta,-why%3F

 

[Buzzard]

+1 blackcat20

It may not be a scam. There appear to be a few companies that legitimately provide a service and charge a fee for the service provided.
Yes - you can do the work yourself and not pay a cent.
No - I do not endorse or agree with the business model but they are not doing anything illegal AFIK.

 

[Dr Ralph]

What you mean by 'scam' isn't clear. Did they actually get their ESTA? If yes, then not a scam, although you paid too much.

 

[Sdtravel]

US$95 is a lot to pay for someone to do that for you since you basically enter the same information into their site and they just copy it over.

They have contacted the bank to flag the transaction and hopefully that gets stopped.

 

[Sdtravel]

What you mean by 'scam' isn't clear. Did they actually get their ESTA? If yes, then not a scam, although you paid too much.

I dont believe they did or if they are it hasnt been sent to them yet. Ive asked them to go ahead and get one from the real site anyway.
If the scammer/overpriced thrid party do finally try to do one does the cbp site error out saying you have a valid one already or would they just give you two and take your money?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

US$95 is a lot to pay for someone to do that for you since you basically enter the same information into their site and they just copy it over.

They have contacted the bank to flag the transaction and hopefully that gets stopped.

What basis do they have to stop the transaction?

Plenty of times people pay a lot extra for services such as visas to be issued by third parties, even though you could quite easily get the same visa yourself for cost price.

If the transaction is flagged (and potentially stopped), your parents might want to keep an eye on their current ESTA status. If it is cancelled while they're on the plane to the states that could cause a whole bunch of problems.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also worth noting that ESTA issuance is not always instant - even if using the official site. Sometimes it can be delayed up to 48 hours (especially, it seems, if making the application over a weekend). If a third party is involved in transcribing details, it might also take a day or two to get an answer.

 

[Sdtravel]

The esta they did this morning via the actual site has been approved. So its just a matter of if the other site ever does it.
Will have to wait an see i guess

 

[sausagefingers]

I was quoted $100 per person by Escape Travel for an ESTA when I got a quote for a US holiday in 2013.
I never went ahead obviously, but it was bloody cheeky.

 

[serfty]

Yes, ESTA's can be obtained directly for US$14 ... (https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1194/~/esta-fee---how-to-pay)


via this link: ESTA - Welcome to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization | US Customs and Border Protection

More on this topic here: ESTA: for all air or sea visits to the US - Money Saving Expert

 

[Himeno]

Yes, ESTA's can be obtained directly for US$14 ... (https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1194/~/esta-fee---how-to-pay)


via this link: ESTA - Welcome to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization | US Customs and Border Protection

More on this topic here: ESTA: for all air or sea visits to the US - Money Saving Expert

and it used to be free when they started requiring them. (my first 2 ETSA's were free. Got the 2nd a few months before the 1st expired to avoid the incoming fee)
The $14 fee is quite "cheeky" too. $5 admin cost, $9 to market the US to tourists... Charge the people who are visiting the US an extra tax to get those people to visit the US?

 

[RooFlyer]

What basis do they have to stop the transaction?

Plenty of times people pay a lot extra for services such as visas to be issued by third parties, even though you could quite easily get the same visa yourself for cost price.

If the transaction is flagged (and potentially stopped), your parents might want to keep an eye on their current ESTA status. If it is cancelled while they're on the plane to the states that could cause a whole bunch of problems.

Under the same circumstances (although these aren't all that clear), I would also cancel, or 'dispute' the cc transaction, especially if the ESTA isn't delivered, or a reason for any delay given (you are paying them handsomely for their 'service', so I think such is a reasonable expectation) . There's a reason why these over-charging sites are called scams.

However I totally agree with your point about checking ESTA status - before the day of the flight, the OP's parent must check the ESTA that the booking is using for US arrival and check that no other ESTA or flag is floating around. This may take some running-around. Take hardcopy documentation re the original application, the cancellation AND the successful ESTA grant with them to the airport too. Can just bin if not needed but may assist if push comes to shove.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Under the same circumstances (although these aren't all that clear), I would also cancel, or 'dispute' the cc transaction, especially if the ESTA isn't delivered, or a reason for any delay given (you are paying them handsomely for their 'service', so I think such is a reasonable expectation) . There's a reason why these over-charging sites are called scams.

If the ESTA isn't delivered sure there is an avenue for recourse with the CC company.

But a short delay is not the same. Otherwise we could cancel airline tickets if they took a day before they were issued.

Finding a price cheaper somewhere else is not normally grounds for taking a product, keeping it, and then refusing to pay for it. We all pay for CC disputed transactions through higher fees.