That "Passport Renewal" Ad at the Top of Your Search May Not Be the Government. Here's How to Tell

What the FTC says happened

On October 22, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission sued GovAssist LLC, Entry LLC and their owner, Scott Zuckerman, in federal court in Puerto Rico. The FTC alleges the companies used paid Google search ads to pose as the government, or as something connected to it, to reach people looking for passport help.

"Using paid Google search ads and landing pages to impersonate the government and target American travelers is illegal," said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

According to the FTC, searches like "passport renewal," "how can I renew my passport" and "get a new passport" routinely showed the companies' IVS.us and Entry.com application pages as top sponsored results. The FTC says the sites have run since at least October 2023.

The FTC's complaint alleges the companies collected at least $40 million from more than 300,000 people. These are the FTC's allegations. The case is pending, and the court will decide it.

What people say they got instead of a passport

The FTC says many people received only a completed passport application, something they could have gotten free from the State Department website. Some didn't realize they'd have to pay again when they sent that application to the State Department.

The complaint lays out how it could feel official the whole way through:

The ad sat at or near the top of the results, sometimes above the real State Department site.

The landing page looked like a government page, the FTC says, with an American flag seal, the Statue of Liberty and "How to Apply" steps that resemble the State Department's.

After you paid, a screen said "Your passport application has been submitted." The FTC says that at that point nothing had been sent to the State Department.

A photo tool asked for "a fresh photo of your face taken now," with no notice that it wasn't the government, according to the complaint.

The FTC also says the price wasn't what it seemed. A "start at $89" claim didn't hold up: the lowest price was $119 plus a $29 shipping fee, for a total of $148, and the complaint says some people paid as much as $499 for one application.

And the speed promises, the FTC says, couldn't be kept. Paying extra for passports in "6-10 business days or 3-4 business days" is faster than anything the State Department itself offers.

How to tell the real site from a look-alike

You don't need to memorize company names. The State Department's own rules make this simple:

1. Check the end of the web address. The State Department says to make sure the site ends in .gov, "not .com, .us, or .org."

2. Don't trust "Gov" in the name. "Even if a company has 'Gov' in its name, it is not authorized to accept or process online renewal applications," the State Department says.

3. Renew online only at opr.travel.state.gov. The State Department says any other website that claims to offer online passport renewal should be considered a scam.

4. Know that no one can renew online for you. "You must complete your own online application," the State Department says. You can't use a third-party service or have someone submit it for you.

5. Never pay for the form. The State Department doesn't charge to fill out a passport form or to make an appointment. If someone asks you to pay for either, the State Department says to treat it as fraud.

6. Skip the ad and type it in. The FTC's advice: your top search results might be phony passport sites, so go directly to travel.state.gov.

Small print saying "Not a government website" doesn't settle it either. The complaint says some of these ads carried that line in small type and people still believed they were dealing with the government.

What it actually costs, and how long it takes

Knowing the real numbers makes a padded price easy to spot. Here's what the State Department lists as of October 26, 2026:

Renewing a passport book, by mail or online: $130.

First-time adult passport book: $130 to the State Department, plus a $35 fee to the acceptance facility where you apply in person.

Expedited service (optional): $60 more.

Routine processing: 4 to 6 weeks. Expedited: 2 to 3 weeks. Mailing can add up to 2 weeks each way.

There's no secret faster lane for sale. The State Department says using a courier company "won't get you your passport faster than applying at our passport agencies," and online renewals can't be expedited at all. If you need to travel within 14 days, the State Department's route is an appointment at a passport agency, with proof of your trip.

The State Department also says it's less busy between October and December. If a trip is coming up next year, that's a good window to apply.

If you already paid one of these sites

It's an easy mistake. These ads are built to look like the government's site, and they're placed where you'd expect it to be.

1. Check whether you actually applied. If you have paperwork from a company and not a State Department confirmation, your application may not have been submitted. Renew at opr.travel.state.gov if you qualify, or follow the State Department's in-person steps.

2. Contact your card company about the charge. The FTC's complaint says many people sought refunds or chargebacks. The State Department says it can't get involved in disputes with these companies.

3. Watch your identity. If you shared sensitive information on an unofficial site, the State Department says you're at risk of identity theft. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for help.

4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or to your state consumer protection office.

Helping a parent or friend renew

If someone you care about is getting ready to travel, one sentence covers it:

Let's type travel.state.gov ourselves instead of clicking the first result.

Then sit with them while they do it. Check that the address ends in .gov. And if they've already paid a site that looked official, tell them it's not their fault. These ads are designed to look exactly like the right place.

The Bottom Line

A paid ad at the top of your search can lead to a site that looks like the State Department and isn't. The FTC alleges GovAssist and Entry used ads like these to charge people service fees, often for paperwork they could have gotten free. The case is pending. The real site ends in .gov, the only official online renewal is opr.travel.state.gov, the forms are free, and no company can make the State Department work faster.

Check the Site Before You Pay

The safest fee is the one you only pay once. Many of these start with a search result that looks just right.

For you. If a website, ad, text or screenshot about your passport or another government service is what started all this, FraudSentry checks it before you pay or share anything: the red flags, how the scheme works and what to do next, in plain English. Get it on the App Store for iPhone or Google Play for Android. Subscribe monthly or yearly for unlimited scans. Eligible new subscribers can start with a 7-day free trial. After the trial it is $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year, and it renews automatically until you cancel. The store shows your price and terms before you confirm. No account needed — subscribe without an email or sign-up. You stay in control.

— FraudSentry

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my passport online through a company?

No. The State Department says the only official place to renew online is opr.travel.state.gov, and no one else can sign and submit your online application for you.

Is every passport service company a scam?

Not every one. Some courier companies are registered with the State Department to submit applications and pick up passports. But the State Department says they charge extra fees, can't submit online applications, and won't get you your passport faster than applying at a passport agency yourself.

The site said "Not a government website." Doesn't that make it fine?

Not on its own. The FTC's complaint says some ads carried that line in small type and people still believed they were dealing with the government. The real test is the address: official passport sites end in .gov.

Do I have to pay for the passport form?

No. The forms are free. You pay the State Department's fees when you apply, but never for the blank form or for making an appointment.

Has a court ruled against GovAssist or Entry?

Not yet. The FTC filed its complaint on October 22, 2026. The FTC files when it has reason to believe the law is being broken, and the court will decide the case.

Sources

• FTC Sues Perpetrators of Government Impersonation Scheme Over Deceptive Ads, Misleading Promises and Fake Reviews — Federal Trade Commission
• Complaint, FTC v. GovAssist LLC, Entry LLC and Scott Zuckerman (PDF) — Federal Trade Commission
• Renew Your Passport Online — United States Department of State
• Passport Fees — United States Department of State
• Get Your Processing Time — United States Department of State
• Using a Passport Courier Company — United States Department of State
• Avoid scam websites that offer to help you get or renew your passport — Federal Trade Commission