The Tanaiste has said the Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of websites scamming people applying for passports.
However, Micheal Martin told Sinn Fen’s Chris Andrews there are no plans to roll out an awareness campaign warning people not to hand over money or personal details. Mr Martin said the department is “aware of third-party websites who, in return for a fee, are purporting to assist passport applicants with their online application”.
He added: “Such websites advertising their services for a premium are not authorised to do so by the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Passport Service. The Passport Service is not responsible for the content of, or fees charged, by these sites.
“Members of the public should, of course, at all times exercise extreme caution when conducting any financial transactions online. There are no current plans to run a public awareness campaign about this issue.”
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He said the Passport Service is working on an update to its website to advise citizens that online applications should only be made at www.dfa.ie/passports. Mr Andrews told the Irish Mirror he was surprised that Mr Martin’s department was not going to warn the public about this hoax.
He added: “It seems that a circular went around the passport office to staff notifying them of them. The public should be made aware of it.
“People are ringing up the Passport Office looking for their passports. People are losing money. I think, as a matter of urgency, there needs to be a public awareness campaign put in place.”
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