Beware of Legal Travel Scams: New Entry Permit Fraud for the UK

Watch out for unscrupulous actors trying to scam you when applying for entry permits to the British Isles.

Since April this year, you need an entry permit, known as an Eta, to visit the UK.

It's easy to obtain, usually very quick, and costs £16, approximately 200 SEK.

But, only if done through the UK government's website. The problem is the plethora of other actors trying to imitate the official channel. They lure with promises of speed, but the price is exorbitant, with rogue companies charging over a thousand SEK.

Not Illegal

At Konsument Europa, part of the Swedish Consumer Agency, they are well aware of the problem, and many have reached out to inquire about their rights if scammed.

What makes this tricky?

"Firstly, it's quite new. And it's actually not illegal for companies to charge more for a service that might be cheaper or even free elsewhere," says Amelie Thelander.

She describes the new requirement as unclear, with many searching online for information and finding sites at the top of search results offering the service. They then discover that it suddenly becomes very expensive. In hindsight, prospective tourists may find it was much cheaper on the UK's official site.

"And then, of course, they become very irritated that they have paid so much more. That's what consumers have testified to us," says Thelander, who advises checking the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs' site, Sweden Abroad, for necessary links.

Try to Get Your Money Back

If you have already been scammed, she suggests attempting, with uncertain outcomes, to file a written complaint to the company that charged the high fees without clear disclosure. If you have been completely scammed and received no Eta permit, you can contact your credit card company to get your money back, according to consumer credit laws.

When the USA introduced a similar entry permit, Esta, many similar scams arose.