A Reddit user’s story has gone viral after revealing that their parents opened a credit card in their name without permission, amassing over $10,000 in debt to fund a cruise vacation.
This Reddit post, which has garnered over 1,100 comments, is a disturbing trend of identity theft, leaving victims (or loved ones) with severe financial consequences.
Parents Open a Credit Card
The anonymous user shared how they were blindsided by a letter from a collection agency demanding payment for a credit card they had never opened.
Upon investigation, they discovered their parents had used the card to finance two cruises. Initially, the user’s father denied any wrongdoing. He eventually admitted that both he and the user’s mother had opened the credit card in their child’s name and the names of their siblings.
They claimed they intended to pay it back but found the monthly payments too high and stopped. Their advice to their child was to file for bankruptcy, with the mother even suggesting they open more cards before doing so.
Though the cruise line was never mentioned, the Reddit post sparked outrage and support within the Reddit community, with users offering advice on handling the situation.
| The most upvoted comment urged the user to call the police, freeze their credit, and warn their siblings. Many echoed the sentiment that the parents should face legal consequences for their actions, describing their behavior as criminal. |
This is not the first story of credit card fraud on cruise ships. Last November, four Carnival Cruise Line passengers were arrested after opening credit cards and charging $2,000 to $20,000.
Tips for Handling Credit Card Fraud While Traveling
- Report the Fraud Immediately: As soon as you suspect you are a credit card fraud victim, contact your credit card issuer to report the unauthorized transactions. This will help to prevent further fraudulent charges and start the process of disputing the transactions.
- File a Police Report: It’s crucial to report identity theft to your local police department. A police report can be a critical piece of evidence when dealing with credit bureaus and creditors, and it also serves as an official record of the crime.
- Notify the FTC: File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC provides an identity theft affidavit, which can be used to help restore your credit.
