Thomas cook - beware, the vultures are waiting
Hi Folks
This is going to be a very short post and mainly relevant to UK based WA Members.
If you're in the UK, you'll no doubt know that the long established holiday booking company Thomas Cook has become the latest High Street household brand name to fold.
What you may not know is that the scammers are already out there phoning people who've booked their holidays and asking them for their credit card details including the 3 card security number on the back so they can process a refund.
Most of us know not to give our credit card details out on the phone to incoming callers, but not everybody does. It's NOT obvious, and it DOES NOT make you stupid, but PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS!
If you paid for your holiday by credit card, you're 100% protected as your Card Provider will be jointly liable with the Retailer. All you have to do is call your Card Provider. They will have all the transaction details and your card details, but you have to call them - they will not call you. So if anyone does - be suspicous! Ask for a phone number and call them back if need be. Authenticate their number via the corporate website.
This has served as a good reminder to me to get a credit card again for the first time in almost 15 years, since I cut my last one in half due to mounting debt. I was suckered into an online ponzi scam disguised as a legit MLM a few years back. Since I paid by debit card, rather than by credit card, I've never go my money back!
Hope I wasn't teaching you to suck eggs here, but if I've helped just one person avoid being scammed, it was worth it.
Cheers
Rich :-)
Recent Comments
26
Thank you RichBrennan,
Day in day out, the population of people with evil intention kept increasing.
How can someone feel that it is cool thing to add to another person's misfortune?
We just have to be more cautious about everything that involves money.
Segun
Absolutely, Segun. When there are so many honest ways of earning good money by actually helping people out, then I can't understand the mentality of people who just want to profit from the misfortune of others. Thanks for stopping by to comment.
Cheers
Rich :-)
Thomas Cook himself will be turning in his grave. Did you know that the company was started in 1841 as a one day rail excursion from Leicester to Loughborough for a shilling.
This is a classic example for all here at WA how a tiny idea can grow into something amazing. Never dismiss what you are doing as not worth it. There is a saying "Out of little acorns, big oak trees grow!"
Although, don't go down TC's route and employ fat cat directors who cream off millions at the expense of the 21000 workers!!
That's a great analogy, Jon, and so very true.
The great thing about Affiliate Marketing is that it is grass-roots capitalism which is the true engine room of a Country's economy, rather than big business corporatism. We'll never lose site of our roots and our purpose here. Thanks for commenting.
Cheers
Rich :-)
Sadly, it's easy to do, especially when you've lost a lot of money and someone says that magic word 'Refund'.
Cheers
Rich :-)
If it stops just person getting caught out, it was worth the effort in the small hours last night!
Cheers
Rich :-)
Good Morning Rich,
That was a good idea to put this warning out.
I used to work as a tourist guide for the German company TUI who later fused with Thomas Cook. This is a huge thing and very worrying for so many people worldwide.
Here in Spain, there are 300 hotels which cater to Thomas Cook tourists, they own 20 hotels.
Think of the bus transport company, taxi drivers, restaurants, souvenir shops, even the man who rents out the sunbeds on the beach, etc. It will be a big blow to tourism worldwide.
Other tour operators do not have the capacity to take over this big volume of tourists immediately, it takes time to build up the infrastructure for that.
This definitely is bad news for the economy.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
That's a great point, Taetske.
Often the knock on effect on the people outside the tour companies who's livelihoods depend on the tourist trade is over looked. Sadly, there'll be no compensation for them.
Cheers
Rich :-)
Thanks for the info and warning, Rich. Scammers are over the place, so we all need to be aware!
Virginia
We do indeed, Virginia. Sadly it's all too easy for people to get caught out when they're still a bit up in the air emotionally in the immediate aftermath.
Cheers
Rich :-)
No, this is very good! Some older people may get sucked in, just not thinking.
My mother in law used to give info to callers she didn't know. The family got on her about it.
The older generation who were brought up with cash and cheques are often the easiest target of credit scammers, sadly. Let's hope they're either wised up to it or they've got family near by to rescue, like your Mother In Law.
Cheers
Rich :-)
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Thanks Rich.
You're welcome, Juliet.
Cheers
Rich :-)