Jet setters beware: those crystalline waters you dream of are often swimming with predatory scammers. And travelers are their prey of choice.
Why have travel scams become so popular? The payment terms have a lot to do with it. Scammers can offer properties, accommodations, and special activities that require payment in advance. And since anyone can make a professional-looking web site that accepts online payments, many vacationers have parted with their money only to find themselves stranded in paradise.
What can a traveler do to protect themselves? Pay with a credit card. Never use your debit card to purchase travel deals. Debit cards don’t have the same chargeback protection that credit cards do. If you buy with your debit card, your money is simply gone - whether or not the seller delivered the services they agreed to deliver. By using a credit card, you ensure that you won’t have to pay for empty promises.
One word of caution: chargebacks don’t protect you against shoddiness. Even if those 5-star accommodations turn out to be less than stellar, you’re still obligated to pay for them.
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