Copycat websites

These were the most common examples we've seen. Though remember, search results change by the minute and are often personalised, so what you see may be different.

• ESTA. When we searched for ESTA, a permit that lets you visit the US without needing a visa, a copycat site ad appeared twelfth in Google's results, charging $95 (£75ish) for the (usually $21/£17ish) application. Legit site: ESTA. Further help: Get an ESTA for US travel.
  
  
• Birth and marriage certificates. After searching for copies of birth and marriage certificates, we saw a site which came eighth on Google charging up to £55 per copy in England and Wales. It's usually it's £12.50 (£38.50 for the priority service). Legit site: Gov.uk.
  


• London congestion charge payments. These are usually £15 a day, but we've seen firms charging £17.50. Legit site: TfL.
  
  
• GHIC and EHIC. We've seen sites charging from £35 for a GHIC application – normally free. Legit site: GHIC and EHIC. Further help: Free GHIC and EHIC.


• Driving theory tests. Results appearing on the first page of Google's results linked to a site charging £55 to book a theory test – usually it should be £23 for a car or motorcycle test. Legit site: Gov.uk.
  
  
• Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) payments. Usually £12.50 a day, but we found a site charging £17.50. Legit site: TfL.

• Driving licence renewals. In the ads at the bottom of the first page of results was a firm offering 'checking service' for driving licence renewals, which should normally be £14, at a cost of £60. Legit site: Gov.uk. Further help: How do I renew my driving licence?
  

This is a sample – not the full list. Way back in 2014, we ran a poll to find the top 10 types of copycat sites that people fall for. While with some search terms shyster sites may no longer be quite so widespread, it's still very much a problem.