COUNTY CLERK WARNS OF POTENTIAL PASSPORT SCAM

SCHOHARIE — Schoharie County Clerk, Larry Caza is warning the public about issues related to a third-party service company that claims to process Passports. Customers pay a $250 “processing fee” and provide their driver license and birth certificate through the website www.unitedpassport.com. After submitting their personal information, they receive instructions to visit a Passport Acceptance Agency for “further processing.” However, the website misleadingly suggests that the service company will handle the Passport processing. When the customers visit a Passport Acceptance Agency, such as the County Clerk’s Office, they discover that they must still pay the standard fees to the US Dept. of State and to the Acceptance Facility for photos & processing. 

“My fellow County Clerk’s across New York State are seeing this disturbing and potentially dangerous process for obtaining a U.S. Passport”, said Clerk Caza. “In Schoharie, we have also encountered customers who have fallen for this very questionable Passport Application process.  My specific concerns are these:

1.  Misleading representation of services. The website implies that it “processes” passport applications but appears only to accept payment and then require customers to visit an actual Passport Agent to finalize the application. Constituents might reasonably believe they were paying for a complete service that unitedpassport.com is not providing.

2. Collection of sensitive personal documents. The company requests (and in at least one instance received) copies of customers’ driver licenses, birth certificates, and other personally identifying documents. Does unitedpassport.com have lawful authority, appropriate protocols, or sufficient data-security practices to collect, store, or transmit such sensitive information?

3. Consumer harm potential. Constituents have paid $250 for a service they did not receive and may be exposed to identity theft or other misuse of their documents and personal data.”

According to Clerk Larry Caza, “It is always safer to visit an official Passport Acceptance Facility to obtain a Passport Book or Card. There is really NO need to use a third party processor.  Our Passport Agents are official agents of the Federal Government and must adhere to strict processing guidelines.”

For more detailed information on how to apply for a U.S. passport or find a legitimate Acceptance Facility, please visit:  travel.state.gov

U.S. citizens may also obtain passport information by phone, in English or Spanish, by calling the National Passport Information Center, toll-free at 1-877-487-2778. 

For any other questions, feel free to contact the Schoharie County Clerk’s Office – 518-295-8316.