As travel season ramps up, it’s important to help visiting friends or family avoid a common pitfall: ESTA scams. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is required for many international travelers entering the U.S., but scammers often create fake, lookalike websites to trick applicants into overpaying or sharing personal information.
The key rule is simple: only apply through the official government website (esta.cbp.dhs.gov). Copycat sites may look legitimate, but they often charge inflated fees, promise refunds that don’t exist, or fail to submit your application altogether. The real ESTA fee is fixed and nonrefundable, and the official site only accepts standard payment methods, such as credit cards or PayPal.
Travelers should also know they can check their application status directly on the official site to ensure their information was properly submitted. If something feels off, such as higher fees, different payment requests, or a suspicious URL, it’s likely a scam.
Sharing these tips can help ensure your guests start their trip stress-free, with the right documentation and without incurring unnecessary costs or falling victim to fraud.
Learn more about avoiding scams such as this on the FTC website.