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An email scam is making the rounds, and this time, the email isn’t coming from a “Nigerian prince.” Instead, it’s a little bit more clever. The person sending it claims to be someone you know who has lost their passport (and usually the rest of their wallet) overseas. Alternately, they may claim that all of their credit cards have been stolen, and that the hotel they are staying in is holding their passport until they get their money. Either way, they need you to send them money now, preferably via Western Union. Reporters for both the Lansing Journal and the Chicago Tribune have recently experienced variants of this phishing scam.
Don’t fall for it. Look, a lost passport overseas can be unpleasant, to say the least, but it’s a situation that can be resolved with a trip to the nearest US Embassy.
If you lose your wallet as well as your passport, the US Embassy can assist you with that, also. From the Department of State’s website, here is a rundown of what they can do for Americans who are stranded overseas:
If destitute, Americans can turn to a U.S. consular officer abroad for help. ACS will help by contacting the destitute person’s family, friends, or business associates to raise private funds. It will help transmit these funds to destitute Americans.
ACS transfers approximately 3 million dollars a year in private emergency funds. It can approve small government loans to destitute Americans abroad until private funds arrive.
ACS also approves repatriation loans to pay for destitute Americans’ direct return to the U.S. Each year over $500,000 is loaned to destitute Americans.
The moral of the story? Don’t send any money overseas based on an email. If you think your friend is really in trouble, request a phone call, or call the US Embassy where they are claiming to be stranded to confirm the story before you start throwing money at them.
Also, if you or someone you care about experiences a lost or stolen passport overseas, don’t reach out to people by email, as you’ll likely be mistaken for a scammer. Instead, contact the nearest US Embassy for help. Expediting companies like RushMyPassport.com can’t help you if you’re outside the US, but the good news is that the US Embassy can replace a lost passport very quickly.
Of course, if you’re still in the US, we’d be happy to help you replace your lost passport in as little as 24 hours. Contact us today!
One more thing: I live in Atlanta – There is no regional office in my
part of the country. The Post office specifically told me they
absolutely could NOT get this done in time. This service was a godsend.
That’s wonderful, Xander. I’m so glad we could help!
I have researched the company thoroughly and have contacts at the Department of State. I called the company and talked to individuals there and this is what I found:
1) Rush My Passport is a completely legitimate company. It is not a scam, and it is regulated by the Department of State. They are licensed couriers and, according to a friend of mine who works at a clerks office in Washington, DC, they handle like a thousand or more orders for passports a month.
2) The person who said they do not have a refund policy is wrong. This was the easiest complaint to rebuke because it is clearly listed on the terms and conditions. When I used the service, I asked them how long I how to cancel and they said 3 business days. There terms state that it is 24 hours and they told me they had extended that.
3) What I found was that getting a passport can be a bit complicated. The paperwork has to be exact. And if you dont follow the instructions given to you, then what I gather is that YOU are at fault for the delays caused. If these guys are couriers, then they are the middle man. So someone complaining because the post office messed up the sealing of the documents or someone took your pictures wrong or because the fed-ex got delivered late and they got delayed a day, that is NOT the fault of these guys. That also is listed in the terms. I checks three other companies and they ALL had this listed in their terms. I picked Rush MY Passport because they seemed the largest, had good ratings, and the guy I talked to on the phone named Ken was VERY helpful.
So those of you saying this place is a scam, I am happy to say I didn’t miss my trip. My plane took off less than a week after I started the process with them and I was on it. When I called, someone answered. They sent emails and confirmation along the way. I would use them again if I needed it, though because its more expensive, probably not unless I had to.
I’ve looked on line and read people proclaiming this place is a scam. Where is their proof? On my desk I have my passport. Proof THEY are wrong. So my question is, what did THEY do wrong to screw up a process that went smoothly for me?