TSA PreCheck Scam Becoming Common As Travel Returns

by Gary Leff

Online scammers are setting up fake websites that look like TSA or Global Entry signup,

  • They steal your personal information

  • And even charge you for the privilege

The BBB says these online thieves are designing websites that look just like the official TSA Precheck and Global Entry sites in the U.S. In Canada, they’re knocking off the NEXUS site.

When someone clicks on the counterfeit website, that person could be asked to provide sensitive personal information and may be charged a “service fee” for helping to fill out the application.

You think you’ve applied for expedited airport security and perhaps immigration, too. But you haven’t. You’ve given your passport number to scammers and may have even paid more than the usual application fee (e.g. $140).

Websites may use misspellings of the trusted traveler program you’re looking for. Confirm the website URL you’ve visiting and look for .gov URLs that you’re connecting to security (https:// rather than http://).

And once you do get approved through a real process make sure you do not do any of the things that cause people to lose Global Entry.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Would be nice if the government actually did something like really go after criminals that do this stuff. If they are outside the country at least seize and shutdown the websites.

  3. A way to reduce the risk of this kind of thing happening in the years ahead: eliminate TSA PreCheck and other “trusted traveler” programs and have PreCheck-type screening and Global Entry-type entry to the US be the default method for most all US persons.

    Instead of using fingerprints, GE could use facial matching for those who want to opt-in into at the airport.

    This would limit an opportunity for crooks to take advantage of the gullible.

  4. I went through the entire application process, but when I came to the “Employer Name Address” I wrote N/A. That did not work. Tried to write “retired” that didn’t work either. I am totally puzzled why the government does not have a provision for someone who is not employed, as a spouse for example, or a retired person.

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