Google is hosting adverts for unofficial services like applying for a visa that charge vastly inflated amounts, a BBC investigation has revealed.

The search engine returned ads for services charging £50 to change an address on a driving licence — something that can be done for free on the government’s website.

Applying for an ESTA travel permit on the US government’s website should cost no more than £10 ($14). 

But Google ‘repeatedly’ allowed ads for websites charging more than £58 ($80) for an ESTA, the BBC found. 

Adverts for unofficial services selling government documents are against Google’s own rules.  

Experts are warning the public to be wary of the top search results that appear on Google next to the word 'Ad'. These may charge exorbitant amounts for services that should be fairly cheap - or even free, the BBC investigation finds

Experts are warning the public to be wary of the top search results that appear on Google next to the word ‘Ad’.

These may charge exorbitant amounts for services that should be fairly cheap — or even free, the BBC investigation finds

The third parties responsible are paying Google to promote their ads so they appear at the top of search results.