Is this a scam?

On 3/16/2011 3:04 PM, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:

"Legal" perhaps, but it certainly fits MY definition of scam! I don't
know whether the UK charges for passports (the U.S. does - used to be
$70, now it's up to $100 or so), but paying money directly to the
government is one thing, paying someone for the blank application
documents and instructions is another.

Especially so, since the government makes them available _free_!

Johannes Kleese:
No scam, no fraud, perfectly legal. They just sell a compilation of
information that you can get for free elsewhere...

And easily. I call that a scam.

If this "service" is worth 16 bucks is up to you.

16 quid, not 16 bucks.
--
Mark Brader "It is always dangerous to send authors to jail.
Toronto This removes their chief excuse for not writing."
-- Arthur C. Clarke

On 03/16/2011 05:03 PM, Bert Hyman wrote:
In Tom
wrote:

http://uk.gov-passport.org/

Here's the registration info for that site:

Registrant Nameimitar Atanasov
Registrant Organization:Immigration Visa and Travel
Registrant Street1:12 Han Malamir str, ap.2
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Varna
Registrant State/Province:NA
Registrant Postal Code:9000
Registrant Country:BG

How do you feel about providing your financial info to a stranger in
Bulgaria?


Interesting. Now, try the following - type "UK passport renewal" into
Google and see what comes out as the first item.

In Tom P
wrote:

On 03/16/2011 05:03 PM, Bert Hyman wrote:
In Tom
wrote:

http://uk.gov-passport.org/

Here's the registration info for that site:

Registrant Nameimitar Atanasov
Registrant Organization:Immigration Visa and Travel
Registrant Street1:12 Han Malamir str, ap.2
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Varna
Registrant State/Province:NA
Registrant Postal Code:9000
Registrant Country:BG

How do you feel about providing your financial info to a stranger in
Bulgaria?


Interesting. Now, try the following - type "UK passport renewal" into
Google and see what comes out as the first item.

Entering it either as a quoted string or as individual words returns a
few paid advertising listings at the top, but in both cases the first
"real" hit is for a UK government site.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

On 03/17/2011 01:28 PM, Bert Hyman wrote:
In Tom
wrote:

On 03/16/2011 05:03 PM, Bert Hyman wrote:
In Tom
wrote:

http://uk.gov-passport.org/

Here's the registration info for that site:

Registrant Nameimitar Atanasov
Registrant Organization:Immigration Visa and Travel
Registrant Street1:12 Han Malamir str, ap.2
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Varna
Registrant State/Province:NA
Registrant Postal Code:9000
Registrant Country:BG

How do you feel about providing your financial info to a stranger in
Bulgaria?


Interesting. Now, try the following - type "UK passport renewal" into
Google and see what comes out as the first item.

Entering it either as a quoted string or as individual words returns a
few paid advertising listings at the top, but in both cases the first
"real" hit is for a UK government site.


Hmm... quite possibly depends on what your IP address is, or whatever
paper trail the Google cookies have stored.

On 2011-03-17, Tom P wrote:
In Tom
wrote:

http://uk.gov-passport.org/

Interesting. Now, try the following - type "UK passport renewal" into
Google and see what comes out as the first item.

I get an ad (marked as such) for gov-passport.org followed by the actual
hits. First hit is direct.gov.uk

The expert in scams...
Duh.


"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" a écrit dans le message de groupe de
discussion : ...



Johannes Kleese wrote:
Tom P wrote:

"By clicking the download link you are agreeing to purchase a UK
Passport Application Pack from The Govt Passport Agency. The Govt
Passport Agency is not a government agency and is not involved in the
processing of your British passport.

No scam, no fraud, perfectly legal. They just sell a compilation of
information that you can get for free elsewhere, first of all the next
British embassy. If this "service" is worth 16 bucks is up to you.

"Legal" perhaps, but it certainly fits MY definition of scam! I don't
know whether the UK charges for passports (the U.S. does - used to be
$70, now it's up to $100 or so), but paying money directly to the
government is one thing, paying someone for the blank application
documents and instructions is another.

No you're not.


"Beer Tricks Potter" a écrit dans le message de groupe de discussion :
...

On 16 Mrz., 17:03, Bert Hyman wrote:
P
wrote:

http://uk.gov-passport.org/

Here's the registration info for that site:

Registrant Nameimitar Atanasov
Registrant Organization:Immigration Visa and Travel
Registrant Street1:12 Han Malamir str, ap.2
Registrant Street2:
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Varna
Registrant State/Province:NA
Registrant Postal Code:9000
Registrant Country:BG

How do you feel about providing your financial info to a stranger in
Bulgaria?

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

thats funny..

On Mar 16, 8:15*am, Tom P wrote:
http://uk.gov-passport.org/

Note under terms and conditions:
"By clicking the download link you are agreeing to purchase a UK
Passport Application Pack from The Govt Passport Agency. The Govt
Passport Agency is not a government agency and is not involved in the
processing of your British passport. The cost of the UK Passport
Application Pack (GBP15.99) will be charged to your credit card in
Pounds Sterling. The name Immigration Visa & Travel (IVT) will appear on
your credit card statement when you purchase a UK Passport Application
Pack."

How is this a scam if they tell you up front how much and what they
are charging you for?

On Mar 16, 12:04*pm, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
wrote:
Johannes Kleese wrote:
Tom P wrote:

"By clicking the download link you are agreeing to purchase a UK
Passport Application Pack from The Govt Passport Agency. The Govt
Passport Agency is not a government agency and is not involved in the
processing of your British passport.

No scam, no fraud, perfectly legal. They just sell a compilation of
information that you can get for free elsewhere, first of all the next
British embassy. If this "service" is worth 16 bucks is up to you.

"Legal" perhaps, but it certainly fits MY definition of scam! *I don't
know whether the UK charges for passports (the U.S. does - used to be
$70, now it's up to $100 or so), but paying money directly to the
government is one thing, paying someone for the blank application
documents and instructions is another.

But if you live in a place where it's not easy to get those documents,
maybe that money is worthwhile. It's not a scam if they tell you
upfront what you are getting and how much they are charging.