Most official documents, including passports, driving licenses, ESTAs, EHIC health cards and even fishing licences can be applied for or renewed online. It’s important that when you apply or renew a document or licence online that you use the official website, both to ensure that your personal data is safe and secure and that you are not charged more for the document or licence than you should be.

Copycat websites try to look like official websites but charge a premium to handle the application or renewal, often with no tangible benefit to the customer. Copycat websites pay advertising fees so that their website is positioned at the top of any Google search. If a website is marked ‘Ad’ or ‘Advertisement’, then chances are, it won’t be the official website.

If you are applying for any official document or licence, begin your search on the UK Government’s own website GOV.UK

The Owl and the Copycat video explains how copycat websites work and how they can be avoided.

Sources:Nuneaton & Bedworth Neighbourhood Watch, Trading Standards, Youtube

Useful links:

For information about our work to prevent individuals and communities from becoming victims of cyber crime, please visit www.safeinwarwickshire.com/cybercrime

Be Cyber Streetwise is a cross-government campaign, funded by the National Cyber Security Programme. They aim to measurably and significantly improve the online safety behaviour and confidence of consumers and small businesses (SMEs).

Get Safe Online is the UK’s leading source of factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety. Their website offers advice on how you can protect yourself, your computers and devices, and your business against the likes of fraud, identity theft, viruses and other potential online problems.