Vacation Paranoia

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Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:14 pm

I'm in the process of reserving a condo for a vacation. My baiter experience is killing me! I'm so suspicious of every step of the process, because so far it hasn't been any different than a normal scam.

1. I responded to an ad on the Internet for a vacation rental.
2. I talked to the guy on the phone about the property.
3. I sent a payment over the Internet.
4. I'm trying to return a signed confirmation letter.

Aaagh! I fairly certain the guy's legit, because he almost had to cancel due to some other renters wanting to extend their stay. But then again...is it a ploy? I used my Visa just to make sure, so I can deny the charge if I have to....

What do you do to help with the suspicion? I don't want to do anything over the Internet anymore, because I see scammers everywhere I look!

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 577

Scam my Ex to book it on her CC

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:49 pm

Hmm not sure any of us can help here as we are all in the same boat. Using your Visa is a very good idea though...I've never had a problem with them or MC when things have gone awry.

If you want, just send me the money via WU and I'll look after everything....

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:24 pm

I've had the same experience in déformation professionnelle that Alexis Carrel talked about when he said "Chaque savant, grâce à une déformation professionnelle bien connue, s'imagine connaître l'être humain, tandis qu'il n'en saisit qu'une partie minuscule." or in English "Every specialist, owing to a well-known professional bias, believes that he understands the entire human being, while in reality he only grasps a tiny part of him."

My first job as a gigolo had altered the way I look at people but I have since worked my way out of it.

I always use my credit cards on the Internet and do not think twice about using them to make a deposit on a vacation rental. Earlier this year I used an anonymous debit MC with only $100 on it to make a $57 purchase from what I thought was a dodgy website. I received my product and thought nothing of making another purchase a month later with my normal credit card. Two months later both cards were shut down by the issuing banks for fraudulent purchases on consecutive days. The people running the scheme were arrested.

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:30 am

Maybe next time I'll let a friend book my vacation for me Smile

Thanks for all the offers of help here! Post your bank accounts, and I'll get the money transferred right over to you... Wink

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:56 am

Connie L. Gus wrote:

My first job as a gigolo...

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 5:47 pm

Not sure about other countries, but in the US there are usually reviews to be found for everything including vacation rentals.

That is normally a good place to get a better feel for the validity as well as find out about other's experiences at the same place.

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 6:07 pm

Connie L Gus meant to write:

Quote:

My first job as a go-go dancer...