Fake Passport Seva messages and links
Fake passport texts about cancelled appointments, verification fees, held dispatches and two-day fast-track offers. See the lines and verify.
Passport Seva is the Ministry of External Affairs service for applying, renewing and tracking Indian passports through passport centres. Because many people use it, scammers pretend to be Passport Seva in SMS, WhatsApp and email messages. This page lists the lies they usually tell and how to check before you act.
Lines used in fake Passport Seva messages
- Your passport appointment is cancelled, pay Rs 1,500 to rebook
- Police verification failed, send a fee to the officer to clear it
- Passport dispatch held at the post office, update your address
- Fast-track passport in 2 days, pay the agent fee through this link
How to verify it yourself
Book and track passport work only on the official Passport Seva website, which you should type by hand. The application fee is paid there, and a receipt shows in your account. Appointments are given on the portal, and money for a tatkal slot is not collected by a personal UPI number. Police verification is handled by the local police unit, and no officer asks for a bribe through a call. Imitation sites charge extra, so check the address closely.
Quick checklist
- Do not tap links or call numbers inside the message.
- Open the official app, or type the official website yourself, and look for the same notice.
- Never share an OTP, PIN, CVV or password with anyone, including "staff".
- If money moved, call 1930 and your bank at once.
How Safeavio helps
Paste the message or the link into Safeavio Sentinel (or share it to the app) and it shows a plain verdict with the reasons: urgency, a money demand, a lookalike address or an OTP request. It checks the text you give it and cannot promise to catch every scam.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions
How can I tell if a Passport Seva message is real?
Do not judge by the sender name or the logo; both can be copied. Open the official Passport Seva app or type its website yourself and look for the same notice. Passport Seva will not ask for your OTP, PIN or password in a message.
What should I do if I tapped a link in a fake Passport Seva message?
Close the page without typing anything. If you entered details, change the password at once from the official app, call your bank or provider using the number on your card or bill, and report at cybercrime.gov.in. If money moved, call 1930.
Related scam guides
Fake Passport Seva calls and apps · All brands
Other government services
Passport Seva is a trademark of its owner. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by Passport Seva; it only describes how scammers pretend to be it.