TRAVELLERS to Turkey are being warned to get e-visas only from the official Republic of Turkey website ahead of the summer peak. The alert from travel agents, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and Get Safe Online was issued after British holidaymakers purchased fake e-visas.
The fake visas were discovered on arrival in Turkey, at which point authentic visas had to be re-purchased at the airport.
Travellers to Turkey have the option to purchase a visa on arrival, though at a higher cost than online. But this service is due to be phased out, which could leave travellers who have purchased a fake visa unable to enter the country.
The official Turkish e-visa site is at evisa.gov.tr/en
Nikki White at the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said: ‘Fraudulent websites targeting visa applications and other tourism services, such as passport renewals and EHIC cards, are a problem in the industry, so we would always recommend going directly to the relevant official government website. The problem of fraudulent e-visas to Turkey is particularly concerning as many of these sites look bona fide. If you are unsure, check with your ABTA travel company or visit the FCO’s travel advice online to obtain the official website address.’
Get Safe Online communications director, Stephen Sharp, added: ‘What’s confusing is that there are illegal websites that offer fake e-visas, and then there are misleading copycat sites that are causing travellers to unnecessarily pay over the odds. People must be extra vigilant to both and, instead of relying on search engines, always go direct to the official e-visa site.’
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
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