Cruise passenger loses $3,500 after booking through fake travel agent

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Cruise passenger loses $3,500 after booking through fake travel agent

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Gene Sloan Cruise team lead | The Points Guy

By Sky Industry News

Feb 22, 2025

When L. Williams booked a Caribbean cruise, she believed she was dealing with a travel agent from Carnival Cruise Line. Unfortunately, the individual was a scammer, and it took five years for her to realize she had lost $3,500.

Williams enjoyed a weeklong cruise aboard Carnival Freedom in December 2019 without knowing of the impending issue. In 2024, as her family planned another Carnival cruise, Williams discovered that her reservation had disappeared from her account. After contacting Carnival, she learned that her name had been added to the "Do Not Sail" list because the previous cruise had been paid with a stolen credit card.

"I was stunned," said Williams. "The credit card used for payment was reported stolen after our trip." Despite being asked to repay $3,500 to Carnival, there was no guarantee of being removed from the list.

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Consumer reporter and mediator Christopher Elliott explained that Williams made several mistakes when booking the 2019 cruise. Her first error was not vetting the travel agent who turned out to be unaffiliated with Carnival Cruise Line. Another mistake was paying for the cruise using Zelle instead of a credit card.

Elliott advised against using cash or instant money transfers like Zelle due to lack of purchase protection. He suggested researching travel agents and agencies before booking and emphasized using credit cards for payments to protect against fraud.

Carnival declined to comment on Williams' situation but stated that legitimate consultants would never request payment via apps like Zelle.

Elliott recommended checking agents' credentials through organizations such as the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) or Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). He also mentioned AAA's vetted professionals as reliable options.

In summary, thorough research and using credit cards can prevent vacation scams. Elliott offers assistance through ombudsman@thepointsguy.com for those facing similar issues.