$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake TSA PreCheck enrollment scam
Fraudulent websites impersonate the official TSA PreCheck enrollment portal, charging travelers higher fees for applications that are never submitted or stealing their personal information.
“travel scam”
↑ 439%Key indicators
Usually targetsTravelers
Often hitsTech workers and developers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create convincing replicas of the TSA PreCheck enrollment website or buy search ads that appear above the official site results.
2
Travelers pay inflated fees (often 100-200 dollars) and submit sensitive personal data including SSN, passport number, and date of birth.
3
The scam site either never submits the application or uses the collected identity data for fraud, while the traveler waits for approval that never comes.
What to do first
Enroll for TSA PreCheck only through the official site at tsa.gov/precheck and the authorized provider at universalenroll.dhs.gov.
Related terms
fake Global Entry siteTSA PreCheck phishingSummer travel scamsWebsiteSurgingTravelersBusiness travelersFrequent flyersTech workers and developersTravelersOnline shoppersUnited Statesfake Global Entry siteTSA PreCheck phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Wei, 35, a travelers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate summer travel scams situation while using Website. Scammers create convincing replicas of the TSA PreCheck enrollment website or buy search ads that appear above the official site results.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Travelers pay inflated fees (often 100-200 dollars) and submit sensitive personal data including SSN, passport number, and date of birth.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scam site either never submits the application or uses the collected identity data for fraud, while the traveler waits for approval that never comes.
The outcome
Wei realized something was wrong when website url is not tsa.gov or the official enrollment provider universalenroll.dhs.gov. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Enroll for TSA PreCheck only through the official site at tsa.gov/precheck and the authorized provider at universalenroll.dhs.gov. Wei's experience shows why website url is not tsa.gov or the official enrollment provider universalenroll.dhs.gov and site charges significantly more than the official 78 dollar fee are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Website URL is not tsa.gov or the official enrollment provider universalenroll.dhs.gov
- Site charges significantly more than the official 78 dollar fee
- Website asks for full Social Security number and passport details upfront before any appointment
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Enroll for TSA PreCheck only through the official site at tsa.gov/precheck and the authorized provider at universalenroll.dhs.gov.
- ✓The official TSA PreCheck application fee is 78 dollars (or 85 dollars for renewal) — any higher charge is a red flag.
- ✓Report fraudulent enrollment sites to the DHS at dhs.gov/report-suspicious-activity.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The DHS Inspector General found that over 200 fake TSA PreCheck websites operated in 2024, collectively defrauding thousands of travelers and collecting sensitive identity data.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Enroll for TSA PreCheck only through the official site at tsa.gov/precheck and the authorized provider at universalenroll.dhs.gov.
- ✓The official TSA PreCheck application fee is 78 dollars (or 85 dollars for renewal) — any higher charge is a red flag.
- ✓Report fraudulent enrollment sites to the DHS at dhs.gov/report-suspicious-activity.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The DHS Inspector General found that over 200 fake TSA PreCheck websites operated in 2024, collectively defrauding thousands of travelers and collecting sensitive identity data.
DHS OIG Report 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Travelers, Business travelers, Frequent flyers
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Website — Summer travel scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Travelers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The DHS Inspector General found that over 200 fake TSA PreCheck websites operated in 2024, collectively defrauding thousands of travelers and collecting sensitive identity data.
Source notes
- DHS OIG Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake tsa precheck enrollment scam
How does the fake tsa precheck enrollment scam work?+
Scammers create convincing replicas of the TSA PreCheck enrollment website or buy search ads that appear above the official site results. Travelers pay inflated fees (often 100-200 dollars) and submit sensitive personal data including SSN, passport number, and date of birth. The scam site either never submits the application or uses the collected identity data for fraud, while the traveler waits for approval that never comes.
What are the warning signs of fake tsa precheck enrollment scam?+
Website URL is not tsa.gov or the official enrollment provider universalenroll.dhs.gov Site charges significantly more than the official 78 dollar fee Website asks for full Social Security number and passport details upfront before any appointment
What should I do if I encounter fake tsa precheck enrollment scam?+
Enroll for TSA PreCheck only through the official site at tsa.gov/precheck and the authorized provider at universalenroll.dhs.gov. The official TSA PreCheck application fee is 78 dollars (or 85 dollars for renewal) — any higher charge is a red flag. Report fraudulent enrollment sites to the DHS at dhs.gov/report-suspicious-activity.
Who is most at risk for fake tsa precheck enrollment scam?+
This scam primarily targets Travelers, Business travelers, Frequent flyers. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Website.
Is fake tsa precheck enrollment scam getting worse?+
fake TSA PreCheck enrollment scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.