Travel to Great Britain: How to protect yourself from ETA fraud!

Warning in Great Britain trips: Danger from ETA fraud

Traveling to Great Britain is enjoying increasing popularity, especially during the holidays. For travelers from certain countries, the application for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has been required since April 2025 in order to be able to enter the country without any problems. This measure was introduced after Brexit and is similar to the procedure in the USA.

However, there is now a new dimension of caution, because the introduction of the ETA has also led to an increase in attempts to fraud. Police and consumer advice centers expressly warn against fake offers that are not associated with the official application process. In the past few weeks, several cases have been reported in which travelers came across dubious offers or have already been victims of fraudsters.

The fraudsters often use the time pressure of the travelers who are concerned to apply for their ETA in good time. Sometimes illegal offers for a so-called express process are levered out. These pitfalls are particularly harmful because they not only endanger the financial means of those affected, but also tap sensitive personal data. Such information can later be misused for further fraudulent activities.

In order not to fall into this case, it is advisable to only use the official website for applying for the ETA. The price for approval has been £ 16 since April 9, which corresponds to around 19 euros. Travelers should be careful if the required fees are significantly higher, and even with applications offered in the Google App Store, the risk of encountering fraud attempts.

In summary, it is essential for travelers to Great Britain to be vigilant and to find out more about the official channels in order to protect both money and personal data. An informed planning can help to make the travel experience safe and pleasant.