On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State shut down its online appointment system for passport applicants citing scammers who had been grabbing appointments to sell them to desperate would-be travelers for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.
sfgate.com/travel/article…
sfgate.com/travel/article…
The scammers, who were targeting those with an urgent and life-or-death need to travel internationally, used bots to scoop up bookings at the State Department's passport agencies, making it nearly impossible for others to get appointments.
They would then join online forums, such as the “US Passports and Visas” Facebook group, and offer these appointments — a free government service — for a fee.
On Wednesday evening, the State Department shut down the passport agency’s online booking system entirely.
On Wednesday evening, the State Department shut down the passport agency’s online booking system entirely.
As of Thursday, the only way for those w/ an urgent need for a passport appointment is to use the agency’s national application hotline.
Multiple calls to the number return a busy signal with no option to hold or to speak to a representative.
Read more: bit.ly/2V76iUV
Multiple calls to the number return a busy signal with no option to hold or to speak to a representative.
Read more: bit.ly/2V76iUV
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