Surge In Scam Uk Visa Sites Hits Dutch Travellers

A SPIKE successful scam websites has led to Dutch residents falling for websites offering UK introduction visas astatine astir 10 times nan cost. The scam websites, which connection physics recreation authorisations (ETAs), complaint astir €200 per archive for their services, whereas obtaining nan archive from nan UK authorities costs little than €20.

Fake ETA sights instrumentality unsuspecting travellers

ETAs, which are documents required to participate nan UK from April of 2025, are valid for 2 years and tin each beryllium utilized a number of times. On average, applying legally done nan UK authorities website costs 16 pounds sterling, aliases astir €18.15. According to section news outlet NL Times, galore Dutch residents are still falling for these scams contempt warnings by authorities. 

Authorities had antecedently warned astir these clone recreation visa websites, which saw different spike during nan summertime of 2025. At nan tail extremity of July 2025, scammers had already stolen much than €32,000 from Dutch travellers done this method successful nan year. The Fraud Helpdesk, which monitors scams successful nan Netherlands, stated they had received 189 reports by nan last weeks of July 2025, compared to conscionable 12 successful nan full of 2024.

New ETA request spiked scams

The surge successful visa scams is straight correlated pinch nan UK’s implementation of nan ETA requirement, which inspired criminals to create websites to overcharge unsuspecting travellers. This is because galore group simply type things for illustration “visa for England” into Google and click connected nan first action that comes up, which tin beryllium fraudulent. The first results connected Google, for example, mightiness beryllium sponsored content, and is not needfully nan morganatic root of accusation aliases documentation.

Here are immoderate tips to debar getting scammed connected visa websites aliases immoderate different tract that claims to rumor documentation:

• Always cheque nan URL. Official websites from nan authorities will often see “.gov” successful nan URL.
• If unsure, telephone a authorities number and inquire for accusation connected really to get documents online, aliases if possible, spell to an agency successful person.
• Don’t presume a website is morganatic simply because it looks professional. Exercise caution, moreover if nan tract looks polished.
• Conversely, if location are pronunciation mistakes, things that look retired of place, aliases a suspicious deficiency of accusation connected nan site, besides workout caution.

Read much news from nan Netherlands here.