Stay Alert – Beware of Cruise Scams That Are Trips to Nowhere

Cruising is one of the most popular types of vacations, and with that popularity comes an opportunity for criminals to steal your money or data.

Many different cruise scams have been reported. Some people have paid for cruises, and after showing up at the port with their tickets, found out they weren't booked at all. The tickets were fake, and their money had gone to a scammer. Others believed they'd won a free cruise through an ad, sweepstakes, or raffle and just needed to pay taxes and fees. Then the cruise is "canceled" or "rescheduled" at the last minute, and they've lost their money.

Here's how to avoid cruise scams:

• Book cruises directly through the website of a trusted cruise line. Avoid starting your cruise planning with a search engine, since scammers buy ads and use fake websites to appear at the top of the search results. You can also use a travel advisor.
  
  
• Carefully check the source. If you receive unsolicited cruise offers, do your homework and investigate whether it's from a legitimate source. Always ask questions and study the fine print before booking.
  
  
• Pay with a credit card. They offer the strongest and most immediate fraud protection.

Don't let scammers turn what you thought would be a dream vacation into a nightmare experience!