Scam category
Fake government website scams
Fake government website scams replicate the look and feel of official agency sites to steal personal information, charge unnecessary service fees, or harvest credentials. These sites often rank in search ads above real government pages and charge processing fees for services that are free or far cheaper through actual government portals.
Category activity
“government website scam”
↑ 125.4%Watch for
- The URL does not end in .gov or .mil for a US government service.
- The site charges a service fee on top of the normal government filing fee.
- You found the site through a search ad rather than navigating directly to the agency.
Common searches
OpenScam News Feed
fake DMV renewal website scam
Fraudulent websites that closely mimic state DMV portals charge fees for license renewals or vehicle registrations, collecting payment and personal data without providing any actual service.
Always access DMV services through your state's official .gov website — never through search ads.
Citizens
U.S.
fake court summons email scam
An email claims you have been issued a court summons and must click a link to view the details, leading to malware installation or credential theft.
Remember that real courts serve legal notices by mail or in person — never by email.
Citizens
U.S.
fake voter registration website scam
Fraudulent websites mimic official voter registration portals to collect personal information including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses.
Register to vote only through your state's official .gov election website or vote.gov.
Citizens
U.S.
fake passport renewal website scam
Third-party websites charge inflated fees to submit passport renewal applications, often delivering no service or submitting incomplete paperwork.
Apply for passport services only through your government's official website — travel.state.gov in the US.
Citizens
U.S.
fake Social Security portal scam
A fraudulent website mimics the Social Security Administration's online portal, tricking users into entering their SSN, date of birth, and other sensitive information.
Access Social Security services only by typing ssa.gov directly into your browser.
Citizens
U.S.
fake unemployment benefits website scam
Fraudulent websites impersonate state unemployment offices, collecting personal and financial information from people seeking to file or manage unemployment claims.
File unemployment claims only through your state's official labor department website.
Citizens
U.S.
fake building permit website scam
Scam websites pose as local government permit offices, charging homeowners and contractors for building permits that are never filed or processed.
Apply for building permits only through your city or county's official government website or in person at the permit office.
Small business owners
U.S.
fake business registration website scam
Fraudulent websites mimic Secretary of State or business registration portals, charging inflated fees for LLC formations, EIN applications, or annual filings that are never processed.
File business registrations only through your state's official Secretary of State .gov website.
Small business owners
U.S.
fake visa application website scam
Fraudulent websites impersonate official government visa portals, collecting application fees and personal data from travelers without processing any actual visa application.
Apply for visas and travel authorizations only through official government immigration websites.
Travelers
U.S.
fake tax filing portal scam
Fraudulent websites impersonate IRS or tax authority portals, tricking taxpayers into entering Social Security numbers, income data, and banking details for identity theft and fraudulent refund claims.
File taxes only through IRS-authorized e-file providers listed at irs.gov or use IRS Free File.
Citizens
U.S.
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