Beware of online passport 'service' scams
Digital transformation brings many benefits, especially in public services such as making passports online, helping people save time and effort. However, taking advantage of a group of people who are not familiar with information technology and have difficulty in submitting documents online, many scammers have created fake websites to do it for them, causing many people to lose money and reveal personal information.
Simple, convenient
Mr. Ngo Quoc Cuong in Minh Hop commune (Quy Hop) used to be very reluctant to apply for a passport because he had to go early, queue up, and wait for his turn. However, this time, thanks to the online procedure, it only took him about 20 minutes to complete the entire application on his phone at home.
Mr. Cuong said: “Previously, I had a passport but lost it. After looking up instructions from the Immigration Department, I reported the loss of my passport, filled in my personal information and uploaded a portrait photo and a photo of my citizen ID. I also did not need a confirmation letter from the local police like before. Everything was clearly instructed on the public service portal. I just followed each step and did not encounter any problems."
After submitting the application, Mr. Cuong received a text message notifying him to pay a fee of 180,000 VND, payable via bank transfer. He chose to make a chip-embedded passport and use the express delivery service. More than a week later, the new passport was delivered to his home. The entire process, from submitting the application to receiving the results, was done online, quickly and transparently.
Similarly, Ms. Tran Hai Yen in Le Loi Ward (Vinh City) applied for a passport for the first time but did not encounter any difficulties. When accessing the Public Service Portal, the clear instructions helped her to operate easily and smoothly. Ms. Yen said that after filling in the information, taking and uploading photos, and confirming the application, she received a progress tracking code. The system sent a message to her phone whenever the application was updated, helping her to monitor it with peace of mind. More than a week after submitting, the passport was delivered to her home. According to her, this form is very convenient and anyone can do it themselves.
In contrast to the smooth experiences of many people when using the official Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. NVT (residing in Nghi Loc district) almost became a victim of a scam when applying for a passport online.
He said he saw a website advertising a fast passport service with a professional interface, logos and symbols similar to those of a government agency. Trusting it, he filled in his personal information, uploaded his portrait and ID photo to the system. Then, a person claiming to be a support staff called and asked him to transfer 650,000 VND to "quickly process" his application.
Seeing the unusually high fee, he called an acquaintance who worked in the police force and was warned that it was a fake website. He immediately stopped and did not transfer the money. “I was really worried because I had already disclosed all my personal information. After that, I had to report to the police and change the passwords of important accounts as a precaution,” said Mr. T.
To find out, the reporter visited many groups advertising the service "speedy passport", "super fast passport nationwide" on Facebook, TikTok. The service price ranges from 2.5 - 3.5 million VND. When in need, customers are enthusiastically consulted and quickly asked to deposit 50-90% of the total cost. However, when the reporter suggested going to the office to pay, the "service" side replied that there was no headquarters, only credit transactions.
Need to raise vigilance
From June 1, 2022, the Ministry of Public Security has deployed online public services to issue ordinary passports (without chips) on the National Public Service Portal and the Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal. Citizens only need an Internet-connected device such as a computer, smartphone, etc. to be able to submit passport applications anytime, anywhere, without having to go directly to the immigration office to fill out an application, take photos, and wait as before.
In Nghe An, 100% of passport applications are now received online. Since January 1, 2025, the Immigration Department of the Provincial Police has issued more than 40,000 passports to citizens.
However, taking advantage of the lack of technological knowledge of a part of the population, especially those who are not familiar with online operations, many scammers have impersonated "services" and "brokers" to make passports, posting advertisements on social networks such as Facebook, Zalo... with attractive invitations: "No need to go far", "No queuing", "Fast, cheap"... to collect illegal money.
These subjects often submit online applications on behalf of citizens, but intentionally write incorrect information such as phone numbers and permanent addresses, so that when the immigration authorities need to supplement the application, they will contact them. They will pretend to be citizens, "adding" difficulties to continue to profit. As a result, people not only lose money but also do not receive passports.
More worryingly, some subjects also steal personal information such as photos, ID numbers, phone numbers, emails, permanent addresses, OTP codes... and then use them to open bank accounts, borrow money through applications or take over personal accounts such as Facebook, Zalo, VNeID... After that, they continue to defraud the victims' relatives and friends through these platforms.
The Immigration Department of Nghe An Province Police has also continuously warned people about the situation of subjects impersonating "fast passport service" on social networks such as Facebook, Zalo... to scam and charge fees many times higher than the regulations.
People should absolutely not provide personal information such as citizen identification, phone number, email, bank account, etc. to intermediaries, especially "services" that advertise online passport making. Sharing information indiscriminately can lead to the risk of data theft and use for illegal activities.
Citizens should submit their applications online through the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security's Public Service Portal, following the publicly guided procedures. The current method of submitting applications is very convenient, easy to operate, and has been widely publicized on mass media, the website of the Ministry of Public Security and the Department of Immigration Management.
People can also refer to detailed instructions on the Fanpage "Exit and Immigration Management - Nghe An Provincial Police" or go directly to the headquarters of the Exit and Immigration Management Department for support, where there are always guidance officers with a loudspeaker system and a screen with clear instructions.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huong Giang - Deputy Head of Immigration Management Department (Nghe An Provincial Police)
During the declaration process, citizens need to take photos according to regulations (4x6cm in size, bare head, clear face and ears, white background). Using photos with a blue background, photos edited through applications or software such as Photoshop will cause the application to be rejected. In addition, information such as place of birth, hometown, reason for re-issuing a passport must be declared accurately, especially in cases of first-time passport issuance or re-issuance due to loss, to avoid having to edit or supplement later. After completing the declaration, citizens enter the confirmation code and submit the application. The system will send a notification of receipt via SMS or email, along with the fee to be paid.
The processing time for applications is 5 working days for applications submitted at the central level and 8 working days for provincial level. In case of not being able to do it yourself, people can ask a relative who is knowledgeable about technology or go to the local police station for specific instructions. If signs of fraud are detected, it is necessary to promptly report to the police station for handling according to regulations.