BRITS have been warned to be careful after scam websites spreading misinformation about new travel rules have been found.
There are more than 100 unofficial sites online and while some spout nonsense about the new Etias scheme – which launches next year – others try to steal data.
Etias is new system of managing visa-free travel to the EU issued by the European border agency.
It is a system intended to streamline travel to EU countries for people from outside of it, including travellers from the UK.
At present, it is expected to start in 2025 and will require travellers to pay a €7 fee.
But, despite Etias not being in full swing yet the European border agency, Frontex, has warned that a number of websites are attempting to scam travellers.
It has discovered identified “over 100 unofficial websites” providing information to travellers about the scheme, Connexion France reported.
Frontex notes that while some of these sites are trustworthy and provide legitimate news on the topic, others peddle misinformation.
Some websites even advertise that they can apply for Etias authorisation on behalf of individuals – despite the system being nearly a year away.
Francois Laruelle, Director of the Etias Central Unit Division at Frontex, said: “We are aware of several sites that claim to already accept Etias applications. Travellers should be very cautious about those websites.”
He added: “It is not currently possible to apply for an official Etias travel authorisation since the system is not operational yet.”
Applying for Etias authorisation via a third-party site may lead to risks such as identity theft and selling of personal data to third parties.
These websites may also charge extremely high fees for managing the application, leaving travellers out of pocket.
How will Etias work?
Etias will require all non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationality visitors from outside the Schengen area who can currently enter it on a visa-free basis to register with the system.
The digital system will register travellers’ passports and Etias approval will be checked via a passport scan at the border.
Travellers will be required to register for permission to visit the Schengen area in the days before they travel which will cost £6 (€7).
The EU has said said in most cases approval should not take long.
Some young and elderly travellers won’t have to pay to register but they must still register with the system to travel.
The EU says this will take around 10 minutes per person.
Etias is separate from the Entry/Exit System (EES) of biometric border checks due to start in autumn 2024.
But the systems are expected to work in tandem despite their launches being around six months apart.
Holiday warnings
Holidaymakers were issued a warning after one passenger was banned from their flight – over a viral packing hack.
The trick, which has been hailed on social media for its inventiveness, didn’t turn out to be such a smart move.
According to TikTok users, the packing ‘tip’ involves hiding clothes in a pillow case to prevent you having to pay for an extra carry on bag.
It was thought that because a pillow is taken on as a comfort item, it wouldn’t count as baggage.
But, a traveller using the ‘pillow case hack’ was stopped by airport security – and officials resorted to calling the cops.
And the mayor of a major holiday hotspot in Spain has vowed to ban short-term rentals in the latest drastic move against tourists.
Barcelona‘s mayor, Jaume Collboni, said the city will scrap the tourist licences granted to all 10,101 apartments and give them to locals instead.
The call seeks to rein in soaring housing costs and make Barcelona liveable for residents as furious anti-tourist protests have taken Spain by storm.
“We are confronting what we believe is Barcelona’s largest problem,” the leftist mayor told a city government event.
“Those 10,000 apartments will be used by the city’s residents or will go on the market for rent or sale.”