Montana Holiday Travelers Beware: TSA PreCheck Scams

The holiday travel season is here, and people are making their plans and getting ready to pack their bags. There is good news for those who will be traveling by road over the holidays: the price of gas continues to fall. For those traveling by air, however, there are some precautions to be aware of. Scams involving payment for the TSA PreCheck service have been reported. While everyone is trying to avoid long lines during holiday travel, scammers are exploiting this to steal money.

Scammers are sending emails that look legitimate, offering to enroll or renew your TSA PreCheck. Although the emails may appear genuine, they often contain links to fraudulent sites designed to steal your information. According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims may not realize they have been scammed until they arrive at the airport and cannot use TSA PreCheck—by then, it might be too late.

If you are enrolling in the program, remember that you don’t pay online. You complete the form and pay in person. For renewals, you may receive emails, but it is safer to pay in person. Alternatively, you can go directly to the official TSA website, which can be accessed here.

The FTC advises against clicking links in unexpected emails or texts. If someone insists you pay immediately, it’s likely a scam. Ensure any TSA PreCheck website you visit ends with ".gov"; they will never end in ".com." Stay safe and vigilant out there during your travels..