Hongkongers warned to avoid fake websites charging high fees for travel permits to Canada
Canadian government issues alert after receiving 500 complaints
Hongkongers who are required to apply for additional electronic authorisation when travelling to Canada have been warned to stay away from fake websites which scam travellers into paying additional fees costing up to 17 times the official charge.
The warning from the Canadian government was issued after it reportedly received about 500 complaints from victims who had paid unnecessary fees or from people reporting suspicious websites.
A statement from the Canadian government issued on Monday said several companies have set up websites since August 1 last year, when Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) was first phased in, to lure travellers into paying more than the official fee of C$7 (HK$ 41.92) to provide information and submit the applications on behalf of the applicants.
“These companies are not operating on behalf of the Government of Canada,” the statement said, adding that the Canadian Government website Canada.ca/eTA was the only valid site at which to apply for such authorisation.
Hong Kong police’s Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau did not receive related reports. A spokesman reminded travellers to verify the websites they were using to apply for travel documents, especially when payment was required.
Visa-exempt foreign nationals have needed an electronic travel authorisation to fly or transit through Canada since March 15 this year, including holders of the Hong Kong SAR or British National (Overseas) passports.
The leniency period that allows travellers to board their flight without such authorisation ends September 29.
Canadian newspaper the National Post reported that the Canadian government was monitoring the suspicious websites after discovering they charged up to 17 times the official fee, with some people charged an exorbitant €85 (HK$ 728.15).
At least 10 such websites have been spotted.
Nancy Chen, a spokeswoman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, was quoted as saying the agency was “very concerned” that travellers were unknowingly paying unnecessary fees and providing personal information to these companies running the websites.
An official application requires the applicant’s name, date and place of birth, gender, address, nationality and passport information. An eTA, most of which are approved within minutes, will last for five years or until the traveller’s passport expires.
