The digitalization of travel processes has made life easier for millions of tourists, but it has also opened up new opportunities for fraud. A tourist said he was the victim of fraud when he tried to obtain a visa to travel to Canada through a website that looked official. After entering his bank details, he received a call from the bank warning that he had been the victim of a scam. The case, revealed by the British consumer association Which?, is serving as a warning to travelers across Europe, including the Portuguese.
Financial expert Simon Dicey explained that these scams are becoming more frequent. “We are pleased to know that you did not lose money. It is increasingly difficult to distinguish official foreign government websites from fraudulent copies, like the one you used,” he said.
Dicey added that “there has been a wave of scams linked to visa applications for Canada” and advised travelers to always start with official government portals, where verified links to consulate and embassy pages are available.
Personal data at risk
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, even without direct financial loss, victims can see their personal data used in fraud schemes. “Scammers can use your information to make orders in your name. Although you are not responsible for any losses, you should consider registering with the Cifas Protective Registration service, which costs 30 pounds (around 35 euros) for two years and guarantees additional checks on any financial request made in your name”, explained the same expert.
Scams increase with the new European system
The case comes at a time when the new European border control system, known as the Entry/Exit System, came into force. (EES), which aims to make airport checks faster. The EES obliges passport holders from countries outside the European Union and travelers crossing Schengen borders to provide biometric data and fingerprints.
For now, no additional visa is required for those who are already exempt, but the confusion has been taken advantage of by fraudsters who try to deceive tourists through fake websites, says the same source.
What changes with ETIAS
The situation may worsen in 2026, when the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is implemented. The new system will oblige citizens of countries that do not require a visa, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Australia, to obtain an electronic authorization before entering the Schengen area for short stays.
This requirement will apply to 30 European countries, including all European Union Member States (except Ireland), plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Some travelers have confused the current EES, which is already active and does not require applications, with the future ETIAS, which has made it easier for fraudsters to act.
More than 60 fake websites already detected
The British association of travel agencies and tour operators ABTA confirmed that criminals are taking advantage of this confusion. “People who try to apply for ETIAS now run the risk of fraud, potentially losing money or having their personal data compromised,” he warned EuroNews.
According to the association, more than 60 fake websites have already been identified that claim to sell ETIAS authorization, a fraud aimed at those who plan to travel and are unaware that the system is not yet available. When the system is officially launched, orders can only be made through the European Union website.
According to , ABTA Director of Public Affairs, Luke Petherbridge, reinforced that “the European Union wants to make it clear that there is only one official website for purchasing the ETIAS authorization and that travelers should not use other channels”.
And the Portuguese?
Although Portuguese citizens do not need any visa or authorization to travel within the Schengen area, scams can also target them when processing electronic visas from other countries, such as Canada or the United States. In these cases, the order must only be made on official websites, ending in .gc.ca (Canada) or .gov (USA), and never on intermediary pages that charge additional fees.
The fraud takes advantage of those who are about to travel and end up trusting fake pages that imitate government portals.
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