[Ocean Swimmer]

Well just got a bunch of emls from my credit card company.
When I was checking reservations some web sites asked my information before seeing about seats-& vacancies.
Ended up paying airline direct. And hotel direct. ( for my recent
Trip to Florida.
Don't use smart fares. They charged me for s trip I didn't authorize.
Don't use Airbnb. They said they'd look it up. Nothing more. Said no vacancy on my date. Tried to charge me anyway for full amount. Also very sneaky. Wanted all the contacts in my address emls. I read the fine print and opted out. Then they charged my credit card anyway.
Spent 45 min on hold and talking to fraud investgators. Now I have to cut up two credit cards. And I'm in Costa Rica.
Thank heavens I have one left. And my Costa Rican cards.
Plus my dog is missing.
I'm overly manic. Bipolar mind ! Be careful.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I cant believe how careful you need to be with your personal information online.
Now I want to buy some books on Amazon. I'm concerned.

[Standup2me]

Do two things right now
1) set up an email address that you only use for on-line shopping. Do not use it for anything else.
2) get a credit card with a low limit, maybe $500 and only use this for on-line shopping

You are entitled to see your credit record once a year. Get it and ask to have anything incorrect expunged.

Ask to have your credit file flagged. All suspicious activity will trigger a call to you.

You can get through this.

[gina_re]

I think you can also freeze your credit. At least I heard something like that in the news. That also means you can't apply for anything either. If you know you will be making a purchase and need a credit check, you can unfreeze it, but it will take about 30 days for it to come off. Please don't quote me on that, but I swear I heard that about a week or so ago..

[Ocean Swimmer]

Thank you so much. Both of you.
My current dilemma has been solved.
But I too like to go on EBay and Amazon. Although I've never suffered any consequences on either.
The web is getting sneaky and we have to protect ourselves.
Those Airbnb people are the worst. They asked me the same questions my bank asks when I'm doing telephone transfers. Plus the last 4 digits of my Social Security number. Now if they had my account number they could steal all of my money by posing as me and transferring my money into thier account.
When my husband gets back to USA I'll have him check all our savings and checking accounts.
With credit cards your liability is limited. No guarantees on Stock accounts or Bank accts.
Plus we use A non brick and mortar bank.
We do have two walk in banks.