AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel credit card fraud

A footnote to this subject:

The recent theft of eight million credit card numbers by someone who hacked into the site where they are stored raised a question for me. My son, who is a network security consultant in NYC, told me that those numbers would likely be sold in blocks of a thousand or so to buyers who probably reside half a world away. So, although the authorities currently have not detected use by thieves of those particular numbers, they could be used sometime in the future. It's always possible for unauthorized charges to appear at any time, regardless of how careful one is of not compromising one's own card numbers.

Cash or near-cash is a traveler's best option. We've paid cash for all transactions on our last two visits to Belize and it works well in two ways. First, we don't have to wonder about the charges that will show up and second, we've obtained discounts on the final tally of big buck items such as vehicle rental for payment in cash. It's the old-fashioned way, I know, but considering the trade off these days the "cashless" society may be in retreat.

We were in San Pedro in January, and they got us also, only thank goodness, for $100 Belize,(but even that is to much) and I will tell you who it posted to on our credit card bill, TROPIC AIR, which honestly is why it caught my attention, first let me say, our trip was a package, so yes our tropic air tickets were already paid for, and besides that what else would you buy there?? and whether or not the owners of Tropic Air or the managers are aware of this, i dont know, but someone there is running false charges! Our credit card company did not want us contacting the merchant directly, i was informed that during the investigation they would contact the merchant.(we will see) We will always pay with cash from now on, and cant wait to get back to AC!!!

Never had any credit card troubles in Belize,,,,but when we flew on TACA to Honduras, Bay Islands....my credit card was charged 6 months later for the airfare....!I thought it was a total fraud, as the credit card bill did not say "TACA", but rather some weird company in Miami. (I thought they were a Honduran airline...huh?). Anyways, it took MONTHS to sort out. What a pain! :rolleyes:

T in Belize Please read my previous message. I know that Tropic Air deals with the Atlantic Bank.
If this is the same problem that we are having with charges -- the merchant is NOT aware of the error. It does not show as a credit to the merchant, only as a charge to you. It is a glitch in the new computer system at the bank. Before assuming you have been "taken" or that there is a "fraud" problem you should be getting in touch with Tropic.

It is correct that this is a problem with Atlantic Bank and not the merchant. The charges are being charged to your credit cart but the merchant, Tropic Air, in your case has no knowledge of it. Tropic is attempting to contact those affected once the Bank identifies the charges and lets Tropic know to let you know that this is not done by Tropic. You will be credited back for the charge by your credit card company. I dissagree with not contacting Tropic direct. It would expidite your credit and help Tropic to work with the bank to get this resolved if you would contact them and give them your information.
For anyone else who has been in Belize recently, it would be prudent of you to check your credit card bills closely, as this is not only a problem involving Tropic, but could appear as a false charge from any merchant who uses Atlantic Bank.

PS: If any of these false charges appear on your credit card you do not have to pay them. You can deduct them from your payment and you will not be charged for them or for interest if they are false charges. So they cannot "get you" unless you fail to check your bill.

Thank you bywarren for helping get my point across!! Seems like it is easier to "assume" the negative rather than check out the information of a problem offered. This continues to be a problem that the bank is trying to sort out. I certainly appreciate folks letting me know.

Thanks Wendy and Bywarren for the info, i have contacted my credit card company again just this morning with this info also, and bywarren again they advised me not to contact them, i agree with you i think that is wrong!! I will also tell you that I asked to have the cc # killed and to have a new # given to us, they did not want to do that either, so this card will be transferred and I WILL close it, I thought that would be the easiest answer, becasue lets just say this was actual fraud, and by the way thats the first time I have used that word, I used "false charges" and they are! I was worried that if $100 cleared what would stop $1000 or worse, Thanks again, for the Atlantic Bank info, I take responsibility for what i said and stand by it, I wasn't fully understanding the connection with other merchants, ie we never went to Atlantic Bank, and never bought anything at Tropic Air, but now understand our number could have came from one of our merchants using Atlantic Bank, and it probably would have been more understandable if it was a duplicate charge, not just $100 even, meaning if we spent $57.45 at a gift shop, and it showed on our bill and also showed $57.45 to tropic air. I have not received anything yet, but if and when i receive a letter, I will gladly post to let everyone know what they say to do. As i stated before we cant wait to get back to AC!! and everyone going anywhere, please just watch what you do, and check you statements, also as earlier stated we will from now on use cash or traveler's checks, I think it will save alot of headaches.

Thanks Wendy for clarifying what is going on with Atlantic Bank. I have a merchant account, and its a constant vigil to make sure that the credit card charges that are put thru the gallery actually get into my account. I bank with Barclay's (First Caraibbean) which has the best reputation for being the most professional in Belize, so its not limited to Atlantic Bank, I think its the Belizean banking system in general.
--Silk
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