Question 1

What is the "Fake Cruise Shore Excursion Booking Sites" scam in Tampa?

Accepted Answer

Fraudulent websites mimicking official shore excursion booking platforms target Tampa cruise passengers searching online for Carnival and Royal Caribbean port tours. These sites collect payment for excursions that do not exist, and victims only discover the fraud when they arrive at Tampa Cruise Terminal on Channelside Drive expecting to meet a tour operator. Fake sites often rank high in search results using paid ads. Book shore excursions exclusively through your cruise line official website or at the verified excursion desk on board. Be skeptical of any third-party site found through a Google search that is not a well-known aggregator with verifiable reviews.

Question 2

What is the "Phishing Emails Targeting Tampa Hotel Guests" scam in Tampa?

Accepted Answer

Scammers send phishing emails to travelers who have recently booked hotels near Tampa International Airport or in the Westshore business district, impersonating properties like the Marriott Water Street or Hilton Tampa Downtown. The emails claim a booking issue requires credit card re-verification through a fake link. Victims who click lose card details or have bookings cancelled and rebilled at fraudulent rates. Hotels will never email you asking to re-enter full credit card details after a booking is confirmed. If you receive such an email, call the hotel directly using the number on the official website, not a number provided in the email. Check the sender email address domain carefully for misspellings.

Online Scams in Tampa

Fake Cruise Shore Excursion Booking Sites

Phishing Emails Targeting Tampa Hotel Guests

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