Identity Theft at Ports

[fleckle]

Theft can happen anywhere, even at one's local grocery store or shopping mall.

If our cash is stolen, it is gone and we have no protection or recourse.

If our credit card number is stolen, we lose nothing.

[fayruz]

Safest thing is to carry cash or traveller's cheques.

In Italy we have rechargeable credit cards that are safer than personal credit cards: I carry one with me with only an emergency amount, just in case I'm left on shore and need to buy an air fare to get back to the ship.

[jjb415]

I am surprised to hear that they still have traveler's checks. I used to use them 30 years ago, but, wouldn't know where to buy them now, since all of my banking is done online.

[izzyvet]

Umm, hate to break the news to you, but the merchant needs your CC number in order to charge you. The merchant will have a copy of your CC number, and if you scratch it out, you just stole from the merchant.

 

 

Then why oh why is the number not on 90% of the receipts the merchant keeps here in the US? Do you mean I've been stealing from merchants all these years?? If the card is processed electronically, (which is very common now in Mexico in tourist areas) the charge will go through. Problem is, many cashiers in Mexico aren't familiar with deleting the CC number on the electronic receipts. And I'm not talking about scratching out the number on the old swipe type reciepts. No one should do that, and they would not have a way of processing the charge. And I'm only sratching out the first 8 and leaving the last 4 digits, just like I used to do here before it became common to have it like that on the slip.

 

Cash is best to use in Mexico though, unless it's for a purchase that's really big. I am very comfortable using my CC at the hotels I'm staying in while traveling down there and in the bigger, more upscale restaurants, but everything else, I pay for in cash. And when the exchange rate was 13:1, I used pesos, instead of dollars.

[cruiserbryce]

we have never had a problem and really havent heard of one first hand...but we do everything possible to pay in cash at the ports to avoid both this and any foriegn currency exchange charges on the cards

[MIcruiser99]

I am surprised to hear that they still have traveler's checks. I used to use them 30 years ago, but, wouldn't know where to buy them now, since all of my banking is done online.

 

I bought some last year for our cruise as I didn't want to carry a lot of cash and there is now a fee for withdrawing money from the casino.

 

I went to my local AAA and bought them as there was no fee with my membership card. Not sure if banks carry them??

[cruzincurt]

How come some US hotels still take your card and squish it in a machine to print an embossed copy?

[phoenix_dream]

We just had this happen to us for the second time, in the US. The second time happened while we were on our cruise (was NOT stolen in Mexico as we had not used it there). Caused a real hassle - a word to the wise is to bring a second card with you and leave it in your safe or something. If my adult son had not had his card with him we would have had real issues in getting our cruise charges paid for - would have had to call the credit card company daily to get charges approved. Even if you use cash in ports, if you charge your ship activities/drinks I strongly advise you to bring an extra card just in case. If it can happen to us, it can happen to you:rolleyes:

[phoenix_dream]

One more thought - keep in mind that much of credit card theft actually happens through internet hacking into your online transactions. That may not be the case here, but just a comment that not having your number on a receipt is good, but does not solve all the problems

[sealeggs]

Three words "pay in cash".

[lablvr2]

We never take our Credit Card into any ports we cruise to. It stays locked up in the safe. We always take Travelers Cheques. When going into port I stop by the ships bank and cash a few Travelers Cheques. We also use Travelers Checks in the ports. No problem.

 

We never take a CC off the ship in ANY port. Cash or TC everytime. I recommend you all do the same.

[dj80colo]

We sailed from Galveston from March 7th - 14th to Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

 

My mother-in-law used her credit card to buy some souvenirs in Costa Maya, Mexico and her credit card number was stolen and they managed to charge $1000.00 in Panama somewhere.

 

Just a warning to others to use cash only at ports when buying souvenirs, especially in Costa Maya. I'm not sure how common this is, but wanted others to be aware.

 

I used cash and never had any problems.

 

Interesting that the CC info was compromised in Mexico, but the unauthorized purchase(s) was made in Panama. Sounds like a pretty organized crime ring -- and that's kind of scary.

[mechcc]

I do know someone who had their CC # stolen in Mexico. And it was at a nice resort that had day passes. The only time she used her CC was at the resort resturant for lunch. That evening there were charges at serveral places in that port. The next day her CC wasn't accepted in the next port. Her CC company thought it was strange that she had notified them she was going on a cruise and to where and all of a sudden she is buying a 52" HD TV in one of the ports! The CC than denied all of the charges and put a hold on the CC. Thankfully, that saved her lots of problems.

Moral of the story - notify your CC company before you travel, carry small amount of cash in ports and use that for meals and minor purchases, and if planning on buying something expensive - take more than one CC on the trip in case one gets compromised.

Still it can happen even at home. Just more stressful when it happens and you aren't home to deal with it.

[fleckle]

I hope that reading this thread does not cause anyone needless alarm or stress. A credit card from a reputable company that does not charge for currency conversion is the best type of payment you can use when traveling. I speak from personal experience.

 

Several years ago I was robbed in South America and the thief got my credit card. While getting robbed is a stressful experience under any circumstances, none of the stress was in the slightest due to losing the credit card. In fact, quite the opposite. If I had been carrying equivalent cash, then that would have been a real loss.

 

Of course I called and notified the credit card company. The process could not have been easier. They immediately canceled the stolen card, issued me a new one, and reassured me that I would have no liability at all for any charges made after my last legitimate transaction. No hassle, no red tape, no need to go anywhere or fill out any forms. I simply used another credit card for the rest of the trip. When I picked up my mail upon returning home, the new replacement card was already there waiting for me. It was easier than getting my driver's license replaced.

 

If I were ever to be robbed again when traveling, I still consider a credit card the best thing to lose because you suffer no monetary loss at all. When a credit card is lost or stolen, you lose only a small piece of plastic that is quickly and easily replaced.

 

Besides, paying with a credit card gets you all the other benefits that you don't get when paying with cash or traveler's checks.

 

I did not find the experience to be any more stressful than it would have been had it happened at home; in fact possibly less so because people generally tend to feel safer on their own turf.

[Terre]

We always pay only in cash. We know exactly what our exursions will cost for each port, how much we will tip, how much cab fare is, etc. and take that amount plus a little for shopping. We don't take lots and lots of cash, just a little over what we'll need for the day. Traveler's checks are also a good way to pay for things.

 

You just can't be too safe these days and you can't trust anyone.

[phoenix_dream]

I hope that reading this thread does not cause anyone needless alarm or stress. A credit card from a reputable company that does not charge for currency conversion is the best type of payment you can use when traveling. I speak from personal experience.

 

Several years ago I was robbed in South America and the thief got my credit card. While getting robbed is a stressful experience under any circumstances, none of the stress was in the slightest due to losing the credit card. In fact, quite the opposite. If I had been carrying equivalent cash, then that would have been a real loss.

 

Of course I called and notified the credit card company. The process could not have been easier. They immediately canceled the stolen card, issued me a new one, and reassured me that I would have no liability at all for any charges made after my last legitimate transaction. No hassle, no red tape, no need to go anywhere or fill out any forms. I simply used another credit card for the rest of the trip. When I picked up my mail upon returning home, the new replacement card was already there waiting for me. It was easier than getting my driver's license replaced.

 

If I were ever to be robbed again when traveling, I still consider a credit card the best thing to lose because you suffer no monetary loss at all. When a credit card is lost or stolen, you lose only a small piece of plastic that is quickly and easily replaced.

 

Besides, paying with a credit card gets you all the other benefits that you don't get when paying with cash or traveler's checks.

 

I did not find the experience to be any more stressful than it would have been had it happened at home; in fact possibly less so because people generally tend to feel safer on their own turf.

 

I agree with you 100%. With the exception of small amounts of cash for tips/small purchases, you are much better off with plastic. I don't understand why people think just because they are traveling they are suddenly so much more vulnerable than in their home port. Common sense should of course always prevail, but plastic provides alot of protection against large losses. If you are worried about theft and carry a considerable amount of cash, consider that you could get robbed on your way to the airport/cruise line in the good ole USA. It happens. As I mentioned above in my previous post, our two credit card compromises both happened when we were in our home town, and never once in a port on one of our many cruises. Not that it couldn't, but my point is that you are vulnerable anywhere, so why not use the vehicle that provides you financial protection. If you bring only cash and get robbed in transit, you are SOL.

[dutchess43]

Had my cc compromised in a very upscale restaurant in NY City. It had loads of 900 sex calls on my bill. Seems like my waiters had a ball! The CC company did not charge me, they cancelled the card & issued me another one.

[cruzincurt]

While looking at silver stuff in Costa Maya, I offered cash to which the vendor exclaimed "cash is king and gets extra discounts".

 

I know it can happen anywhere, anytime, but why increase your exposure and added pain in the butt by charging that $1.39 coffee at McDonalds on a CC or debit card?

 

I sometimes offer cash or check for some services and can negotiate a discount. Those are the services I don't need CC protection on, ie., might need to dispute charges later.

[Laid-back]

One more thought - keep in mind that much of credit card theft actually happens through internet hacking into your online transactions. That may not be the case here, but just a comment that not having your number on a receipt is good, but does not solve all the problems

 

Can't get paranoid about this subject because the above does happen more than we might think. Just finished up an episode of this very thing. The company knew that they had been hacked and sent out alerts, but not before charges were made. Bank made it good immediately. Don't go overboard with worry about using a credit card.

[COMBOY]

We sailed from Galveston from March 7th - 14th to Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

 

My mother-in-law used her credit card to buy some souvenirs in Costa Maya, Mexico and her credit card number was stolen and they managed to charge $1000.00 in Panama somewhere.

 

Just a warning to others to use cash only at ports when buying souvenirs, especially in Costa Maya. I'm not sure how common this is, but wanted others to be aware.

 

I used cash and never had any problems.

 

This type of theft can happen anywhere and probably happens more than we think. I do agree that you are just better off using cash. Most of the larger well establish merchant are pretty safe, but the small merchant in Mexico...I just don't feel too safe using my CC. It's easy to duplicate the number and sell on the internet. Of course you don't have any liability; however, its the hassles of getting it cleared up. If you ever use your CC never let it out of your sight, get signed receipts and destroy any carbons. Ultimately it's that merchant in Panama that gets stuck with the $1000 lost. I fear that some people just pay their CC bills without questioning some charges and that's what those thieves are hoping for.

[sailingawaysoon]

Thanks for the heads up on this. We typically use our credit card in ports because we aren't liable for any unauthorized charges and we don't have to worry about taking a lot of cash etc with us.