Lesson 295 · 3 min
When something goes wrong on a trip
AI can calm you down and help you write the right message fast, but phone numbers and addresses must come from official sources.
A lost passport, a stolen phone or a fever in a strange city can make your mind go blank. A chatbot is good at giving you a short checklist and helping you write clear messages, even in a language you do not speak.
Use it for words and steps: a note for the hotel front desk, a phrase to show a taxi driver, a list of what to bring to the police station or the embassy, a message to your bank to lock your card.
Do not use it as a phone book. AI can invent a number that looks real. Get embassy contacts from the embassy's official website, bank numbers from the back of your card or the bank's app, and local emergency numbers from official sources. In Vietnam, that is 113 for police, 114 for fire and 115 for an ambulance.
Watch for scammers too. Fake support pages and callers who say they are from your bank or airline love travellers in a hurry. Never share a one-time code, whoever asks.
Do it now
Prepare a trouble card before you go
- 1. Before the trip, use the prompt below to make a short checklist for lost documents and illness.
- 2. Look up your embassy, your bank and local emergency numbers on official sites and add them yourself.
- 3. Save the card offline on your phone and keep a paper copy in your bag.
I am travelling to [country] for [days]. Make a short checklist for what to do if I lose my passport, lose my phone or get sick. Include phrases in the local language for asking for help. Do not include any phone numbers or addresses. I will add those from official sources.
Quick check
Keep going
Next →Restoring old family photosWords from this lesson
- Phishing
- Fake messages that pretend to be someone you trust to trick you into clicking a link, paying or sharing passwords.
- Hallucination
- When an AI states something false with confidence, such as a made-up fact, quote or source.