Dear Tripped Up,
Ann from Philadelphia writes: I recently experienced a troubling incident during a trip to Paris. I took a short taxi ride that cost me 7.95 euros, which I charged to my Citi credit card. However, the driver refused to issue a receipt, and to my shock, my card was charged an astronomical amount of $795.85 instead. I immediately contacted Citi for assistance, but they were unwilling to reimburse me for what is clearly a fraudulent charge. Can you offer any guidance on how to resolve this situation?
Kevin from Seattle shares: My friends and I booked a luxurious stay at an apartment in Amsterdam through Vrbo, totaling $5,500. Shortly after securing our reservation, the owner reached out, insisting that we wire him the entire rental cost upfront. Although we were hesitant, we had successfully wired money before for a previous stay in Italy, so we complied. Unfortunately, just before our arrival, the owner canceled the booking and promised a refund that never materialized. Now, Vrbo seems to be dragging its feet in addressing the issue. Can you help us navigate this predicament?
Christine from New York explains: I wanted to enroll my two college-age children in the Global Entry program, which is administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. This program would allow them to breeze through passport checkpoints alongside me. I searched for “Global Entry application” on Google and clicked on the first link that appeared, which looked legitimate at first glance. I filled out the necessary forms and was charged $249 for each application. Upon realizing my mistake — the actual government fee is only $100 — I requested a refund. I succeeded in getting back everything except the $100 fees. While the applications were processed, I’m deeply concerned about identity theft due to the dubious nature of this site. Doesn’t Google have a responsibility to prevent fraudulent sites from appearing at the top of search results?
Dear Ann, Kevin, and Christine,
You are all seasoned travelers, yet it is unfortunate that you fell victim to three distinct scams that have become all too common in our Tripped Up inbox. With the Olympics taking place in France, let’s begin with Ann’s story. The taxi driver not only overcharged you but also failed to provide a receipt, which is a frustratingly familiar issue for many tourists.
In recent months, I’ve received numerous complaints regarding taxi scams in Paris. However, these types of incidents can occur in tourist hotspots around the globe. We even reported a similar scam in Mexico just a few months ago. The unfortunate reality is that these fraudsters are often individuals or small businesses that are difficult to trace, particularly in a foreign country where you may not speak the language fluently. As a result, Ann, like many other victims, turned to the fraud department of her credit card issuer for assistance.
