PanicStation.org
UK USA
uk Travel, documents & being abroad demand money to return passport • passport return fee scam • ransom for lost passport • found my passport pay now • lost passport extortion message • document return blackmail • i found your passport whatsapp • pay to get documents back • passport held for reward scam • lost documents cash demand • suspicious contact about passport • scammer has my passport details • threatened over passport return • abroad lost passport scam • passport recovery payment request • courier fee for passport scam • someone says they have my id • fake embassy passport call

What to do if…
you receive a demand for money to “return” your lost passport or documents and you suspect a scam

Short answer

Do not pay or share more personal information. Cancel your UK passport as soon as possible and switch to official channels (local police and UK government consular routes) to recover safely.

Do not do these things

  • Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or “delivery/processing fees” to get your passport back.
  • Do not send photos/scans of your passport, visa, boarding pass, address, or signature to an unknown person “to prove it’s yours”.
  • Do not agree to meet them alone, at night, or in a private place to “collect” documents.
  • Do not click links or open files they send, and do not call numbers they provide claiming to be “the embassy”, “immigration”, or “the police”.
  • Do not keep negotiating if they become threatening — stop replying and move to official routes.

What to do now

  1. Treat it as unsafe until proven otherwise. Scammers use urgency (“today only”, “your flight is tomorrow”) to push you into paying or oversharing.
  2. Save evidence, then stop engaging. Screenshot messages, note usernames/phone numbers, and record any payment instructions. Do not argue or bargain.
  3. Cancel your UK passport immediately. Use the UK government service to report it lost/stolen so it can’t be used by someone else.
  4. If you’re abroad and may need to travel soon, use the official emergency travel route. Apply via the UK government process for an Emergency Travel Document if you genuinely cannot travel without your passport.
  5. Report it locally if safe and practical. Contact the local police and ask for an incident/report number. If you’re being threatened or stalked, ask what they recommend for safe handling.
  6. Verify any “we found it” claim through contacts you find yourself. If they say “your hotel/airport/taxi has it”, contact that organisation using details from their official website or your booking confirmation — not the details in the message.
  7. Reduce identity/financial risk if you shared anything. If you gave card/bank details or sent money, contact your bank/card provider immediately using the number in your banking app or on your card.
  8. Report the scam attempt via the right UK route.
    • England, Wales, Northern Ireland: report to Report Fraud (the UK’s national fraud/cyber reporting service).
    • Scotland: report to Police Scotland (and keep any incident/reference number).
  9. Optional (if the scam came by email/text): report it as phishing. Forward suspicious emails/texts using the UK government-recommended reporting options.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to confront the person, “prove ownership”, or try to recover documents face-to-face.
  • You do not need to post publicly about the loss or the messages.
  • You do not need to buy new flights today unless an official passport/travel-document route confirms you cannot travel as planned.

Important reassurance

This scam works by creating a feeling of urgency and helplessness. Cancelling your passport and shifting to official channels is a protective move that stops the situation escalating.

Scope note

These are first steps to prevent harm and stabilise things. Replacement documents, visa issues, insurance, and longer-term identity protection may take follow-up later.

Important note

This is general information for urgent first actions, not legal advice. If you feel physically unsafe or are being threatened, prioritise getting to a safer public place and contacting local emergency services.

Additional Resources
Support us