⚠️ Don’t get scammed in miami. ⚠️
Went to miami for a dr appt and had to book a hotel
Booked through Expedia and then the host calls saying he need a credit card so he can give the code to the room or whatever cause I guess the rooms or apts in that building are owned by people anyway we gave it and got the code stayed the night we paid for thought everything was fine , then boom 💥 4 days later my credit card that I gave was charged twice $194.40 so my bank messaged me and emails me cause the first charge ok then again with the same? Flagged the system immediately as fraud and I was like no that was not me cause it wasn’t I literally had just woken up so I reported both as fraud and now they’re investigating.
Good thing I gave them the card with the lowest limit on it cause they were trying to take more out and once they did it again the other thing that trigger it was it going over the limit of the card.
Moral of the story: DONT BOOK ON EXPEDIA IN MIAMI MAKE SURE ITS A HOTEL NOT APT BUILDING AND DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD.
During my recent trip to Miami, I encountered a troubling experience that’s unfortunately becoming more common among travelers: a booking scam involving apartment rentals. After reserving what I thought was a legitimate accommodation through Expedia, I was unexpectedly contacted by the host who requested my credit card details to provide the room’s entry code. Unfamiliar with this requirement, I complied, only to later find unauthorized charges on my card totaling nearly $388. What saved me was using a card with a low limit, which prevented the scammers from draining my finances completely and triggered alerts with my bank due to suspicious activity. This ordeal taught me some crucial lessons to share with others planning travel, especially in popular destinations like Miami where rental frauds can easily target unsuspecting tourists. First, always ensure you are booking official hotel rooms rather than apartments or shared units where multiple owners might have control. Hotels usually use secured payment systems without the need for giving out credit card information to individual hosts. If extra payment details are requested after booking, it’s a red flag. Second, if you must share credit card information, use cards with limits low enough to minimize possible fraudulent charges, and monitor your transactions carefully—sign up for banking alerts if possible. Reporting suspicious charges immediately can help your bank initiate fraud claims and temporarily credit your account, as happened in my case. Lastly, consider verified platforms and direct hotel websites which offer better consumer protections. Reading recent guest reviews for warnings about unusual payment requests or check-in procedures can also help avoid scams. By sharing this experience, I hope anyone traveling to Miami or similar destinations stays vigilant. Protect your financial details wisely, only book through trustworthy providers, and don’t hesitate to report any suspicious activity promptly. Travel should be enjoyable and stress-free, and these steps can help keep your trip safe.
