One of my passions is traveling.  I love to travel.  If money weren’t an issue (hey, I can dream) I would travel the world…several times per week.   When I do travel, I like to go to new places.  Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Costa Rica, I love visiting exotic locations.  An important aspect to traveling is to be prepared and to keep your wits about you.  Sure the idea of hitting the open roads without a plan and only a backpack might sound romantic a la Jack Kerouac but most of like to have an itinerary.  It’s also important to take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety while traveling.  Checking the travel section of the U.S. Department of State website for information on the country you’re visiting.  Or if you’re traveling locally, for example New York City, many go to Google for information. 

Once you’re there to have fun but you’re also careful, you try to avoid the scary areas or walking an empty street or ally at night by yourself.  These are common sense things we do to ensure our safety during our vacation.  The same concept can be used on the Internet.  The Internet is a wonderful tool for research, information, shopping and entertainment.  But you have to take similar precautions while traveling on the super information highway.  Just like you shouldn’t let fear prevent you from visiting another Country or State it shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying the Internet.  I have heard from many offline bingo players that they would like to try online bingo but they’re scared.  These are the same fears that prevent people from ordering books from Amazon, purchasing that new dress from Target online or bidding on that rare first edition Beanie Baby on eBay.  In time most take the plunge because we know that the Internet is a wonderful place when we used correctly.  Top-notch companies like Amazon, Target, and eBay are safe bets but even smaller sites can offer wonderful items so you check them out.  You Google them and you ensure that they’re ordering site has the proper encryption (the soothing look of https on your browser and the little lock on your tool bar reassuring you all is well).  Perhaps you visit the wonderful forums out there to seek the opinion of customers.  Once you’re at ease with the site you go for it!  Plus you have a trump card.  The most powerful ally in the retail world your credit card company.  Be it Visa, MasterCard, Discover, whomever they are your stand up person!  By Federal law credit card companies cannot hold you responsible for fraudulent charges exceeding $50.00.  And if you’re a credit card member in good standing your credit card company won’t even hold you responsible for the $50.00 because they know you get about 100 letters from their competitors a day offering you their credit cards!  Therefore you’re protected against the sinister thieves that lurk offline and online. 

A few years ago my wife had her handbag stolen.  In an hour the thief racked up about $5,000 on two credit cards.  One was our debit card backed by Visa the other was a traditional credit card from MasterCard.  Neither of them held us responsible.  MasterCard even sent us a new credit card via Fed Ex, they wanted to ensure we wouldn’t be without, LOL!  So as horrible and violating it felt at least we were protected. 

I felt the same concerns the first time I traveled into the world of online bingo.  It can be intimidating if you’re not net savvy.  If that applies to you the nice thing to note is that it isn’t scary and you don’t have to be tech savvy (whew!).  Registering to most sites is free and most good sites offer you $5, $10, $20 to try them out for FREE.  Well that sounds awesome!  And it sure looks like fun-playing bingo from the comfort of my own home in my jammies)!   The bingo chat room is soo much fun.  But wow, they want my credit card number.  And I have to open a bank account in someplace I’ve never heard of.  That’s it-I'm outta here!  Don't let that scare you away!  Don't miss out because you're scared. 

Once you're comfortable with a site don't let the fear of the unknown prevent you from playing bingo games online.  I've met a few of the owners online and it's not this shoddy underground world that offline folks envision.  Many are family run businesses.  A family-owned and operated Bingo Hall but it’s online!   Plus you have the trump card in your pocket.  The backing of Visa or whoever your credit card issuer is.  If God forbid the worse happens your credit card company will protect you the same way if you were taken advantage by in the offline world.  I've played at many bingo games, too many bingo cards to count and I've never had an issue with fraud or not receiving my money when I request a withdrawal.  The only time I've encountered credit card theft was offline at a fancy spa my wife was visiting!  A frisky customer racked up close to $5,000 in charges in about 90 minutes but it didn't cause us any long term issues a part from the annoyance and anger at being violated that way.   The credit card company took care of the fraudulent charges and the Spa paid for my wife's stolen handbag.  So don't let fear stop you from visiting new places be it a new country during vacation, buying those trendy shoes on the Net or playing bingo, be it offline or online!  A lot of bingo fun is waiting for you online.