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Cruise scam via Zelle payment lands Michigan family on Do Not Sail list

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A family vacation turned into a five-year nightmare. And it all started with a single payment.

L. Williams found a cruise consultant online who booked his family for a week on the Carnival Freedom. Great price. A catch. He only accepted Zelle. He sent $3,556. The family sailed to the Western Caribbean. Magnificent sunsets. Great memories.

Five years later he tried to book another cruise. No.

Carnival told him he was on the Do Not Sail list. It was revealed that her “adviser” had pocketed the Zelle money, then used a stolen credit card to book the trip. When the real cardholder disputed the charge, Williams took the blame.

DON’T LEAVE YOUR FAMILY OUTSIDE: A DIGITAL INHERITANCE GUIDE

He now owes $3,556 for a trip he paid for. He was banned for life. The scammer’s phone? The connection has been lost. (Certainly.)

Opportunities are real right now

Here’s what you need to know. The cheapest window for domestic spring break flights is approximately 43 days before departure. This week for late March trips. Wait until the end of February and prices will increase by 20% to 25%. This is your money coming out the door.

Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday and save up to 30% on weekend flights. Set up Google Flights alerts now. Caribbean fares are down 17% compared to last year.

Package flights with hotels through Costco, Expedia or Delta Vacations and you can save hundreds total.

Travelers arrive at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, November 3, 2025. (Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Scammers roam like sharks

Williams’ story is not a one-off. More than 38 million people are expected to cruise in 2026, and scammers know it. Here are the big cons I see.

Google trap. Fake cruise line phone numbers appear in search results. One man called what he thought was Carnival’s customer service line and was met with a $650 per person “connection fee.” This is nothing like that. Real cruise lines do not charge surprise fees over the phone. Always go directly to the official website for contact information.
Free travel postcard. Got one in the mail? Throw it away. The fine print sinks you into hundreds of dollars in hidden fees and a windowless cabin with bunk beds. How romantic. An investigation revealed that the company behind them changes its name every year, so you can’t look at them.

AI JOBS PAYING $200K OR MORE

Facebook representative. Scammers pose as travel agents in Facebook groups and collect payments via Zelle, Venmo or Cash App. Then they disappear. These apps have zero buyer protection. These are for sending money to people you trust, not strangers selling Caribbean getaways.
Your three rules: Always pay by credit card. Never call the customer service number from a Google search, go to the official site. If you want a travel agent, verify them at: ASTA.org.

Luxury white cruise liner shot at angle at water level on a clear day.

Book wisely and you’ll be sipping something tropical in a few weeks. If you book carelessly, you could end up on the Do Not Sail list, which is ironically the worst kind of cruise control.

TRAVELING NEARLY? KNOW NOW HOW TO IMPROVE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

If someone you know is booking a spring break tripSend them this first. It takes two seconds to move forward and can save thousands. A payment to the wrong person cost a woman holiday money, cruise privileges and years of debt trouble.