Since April 2, 2025, new rules apply for entering the United Kingdom as part of Brexit. All travelers must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization, known as an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). This application is completed online, before departure, and currently costs 10 pounds sterling (approximately €12). From April 9, 2025, this fee will increase to 16 pounds sterling (approximately €19). Without this document, which is valid for two years, entry to the UK may be refused. All travelers planning a vacation to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland in the near future are therefore currently taking the necessary steps.
Unsurprisingly, cybercriminals have been quick to take advantage of the situation. As reported by Zataz, the introduction of the ETA has been accompanied by a proliferation of scams targeting tourists seeking to travel to the UK. The specialist blog reports that it has observed the emergence of a mountain of "fraudulent websites imitating those of the British government." Belgium's Federal Public Service for Economic Affairs is also sounding the alarm about scams that take advantage of "the urgency of travelers and, above all, the novelty of the procedure, which is still poorly understood", explains RTBF.
Hundreds of euros lost
These websites are obviously trying to pass themselves off as official British government platforms and offer Internet users the opportunity to apply for an electronic travel authorization. To fool victims, the fake sites copy the design of official British institutions to the letter. Scammers also use URLs that are almost identical to those of government websites. They then offer to go through an accelerated procedure before obtaining the ETA as quickly as possible.
Too often, hackers don't just collect money from victims. They also steal their bank details and credit card numbers. This data, in the hands of hackers, can lead to fraudulent withdrawals. Sometimes, cybercriminals take advantage of this to steal your personal data and identity documents, such as your passport. These documents can be used to steal the victims' identities.
Some sites offer to handle the procedures for Internet users, at exorbitant prices. In this case, travelers do get a certificate, but they have spent hundreds of euros to be able to go on vacation.
Some people ended up paying more than 430 euros to get their ETA on time, reports another Belgian media outlet, SudInfo. One couple explains that they paid 438 euros to receive a certificate quickly. On Facebook, French people report being charged 92 or 95 euros by sites offering accelerated ETAs, reports France Bleu. McAfee points out that "1 in 5 French people who have been victims of a travel scam have lost money, with losses that can exceed €450".
Young travelers in the crosshairs
Cybercriminals are playing "on the fear of not being in compliance at the border, a fear that pushes some travelers to act in haste", explains Zataz. The blog specifies that it is mainly young travelers, accustomed to going on vacation through good deals found online, who are targeted. Some of these travelers also tend to leave on trips at the last minute, which requires obtaining an ETA authorization in a hurry. The British government assures that it only takes 72 hours to receive the precious passport.
In order to save money, they are likely to fall into the trap set by hackers. Younger generations, "especially GenZ and Millennials, are the most exposed to these digital scams, due to their high propensity to search for bargains online," explains McAfee in a study shared with 01Net.
How to avoid scams?
If you are planning a trip to the UK, we recommend submitting your ETA application as soon as possible. To complete the process online, be sure to visit the official UK government website, gov.uk, or download the official UK ETA app from the Play Store or App Store.
Above all, do not begin the process through a link received by email or seen on social media. If you have any doubts about the site you are on, use a search engine to verify its legitimacy, advises McAfee. With a few simple searches, you will easily find the official ETA website. Don't give in to the idea of entrusting the process to a third-party website. You'll end up losing money with no guarantee of receiving your certificate.
Source: Zataz
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