to think this is another scam? passport renewal

[pralineandketchup]

Text message from 'HM Passport' with a link to visit. The message states that passport validity rules are changing from 1/1/2021 and you may need to renew earlier than usual.

I'm obviously not visiting the link but before I block the number, is this genuine?

Genuine. Link takes to .gov site and to check questions about whether you need a new passport early or not.

I got it because DS's expires in April next year.

Added bonus is that if you go low this link you avoid the bit on the passport section of .gov where a smug faced Priti Patel shows you a photo of the new "iconic blue passports". Blargh.

Thanks. I was suspicious because I've never given them my mobile number - I don't give it out.

I wondered if it was sent "to all numbers" rather than to individuals, OP. I don't know if that's possible. I wondered because I had one and am not aware of having given them my number.

But it could have been in so many places- tax, dvla, all sorts.

I haven't had it so doubt it's all numbers

I had it... it was on a chain of previous messages from them about passports renewals. I have a passport due for renewal early 2021.

@CrumbsThatsQuick

I had it... it was on a chain of previous messages from them about passports renewals. I have a passport due for renewal early 2021.

Our passports expire in a few months so I guess it's legitimate. It's just odd about my mobile number as I've only given it to immediate family and the schools.

The message content is genuine, but it doesn’t guarantee that scammers won’t use things like this to take people to dodgy links

If genuine the link will take you to the passport website and run through a couple of questions about how old your passport is

There was a recent thread on this subject too.

As we are approaching the end of the Brexit transition, travellers to Europe on a UK passport will be treated as the rest of the world and will need their passport to be valid for 6 months after the travel date.
Therefore if traveling on 1 January UK passports that expire before 1 July may not be accepted, so you should renew before travelling

If an exit agreement is put into place then the rules may differ in line with the agreement terms

If you have put your mobile on documents for other government departments then your ‘government gateway’ account might include it in the contact details
Otherwise it could vaguely be a recycled number that someone else had before

If none of the above then there may be messages going out to blanket sets of numbers

Worst case scenario is it is faked spam to random numbers with a dodgy link
Always be cautious about clicking links, and if you do then don’t enter inappropriate details without manually going to the ‘right’ website first

I had that message a week or so ago. I think it's genuine.

I would be very wary of clicking a link in a text. I'd probably go to the passport section of gov.uk instead and see what it said there.

I had it too (and an email with the same content) not too long ago. I’m not even British , so assuming it’s for DD’s passport, which expired at some point earlier this year.

But it’s definitely genuine, I clicked on the preview on the email, decided it was worth checking and clicked through. It is just a checker to say how long you should have left on your passport depending on the country you’re visiting.

DH had it as his is due to renew, mine is fairly new so haven’t had it.

My wife and a friend have just got back from a cruise on return her friend gets a phone call from the cruise company to say their computer system had been hacked and they need to renew their passports is this a scam? And what can the scammers do with the info they have. ?