New Hotel Scam going around

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04-25-2013, 04:13 AM

DebbieJJ

Super Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: north Alabama

Posts: 1,861

New Hotel Scam going around

I hope I would have been alert enough to realize I needed to go to the front desk in person, but it would depend on how tired I was and if I was thinking straight (I don't think too straight when I'm really tired).

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Anyone with some sense would not give personal info on the phone, but could still get caught by this one.

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HOTEL / MOTEL SCAM / ( This one is so simple it is shocking.)

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the Front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in.
Someone calls the Front desk and asks (for example) Room 620 - which happens to be your room. The phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other end says the following: "This is the Front Desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits on the reverse side of your charge card."Not thinking anything, you might give this person this information, since the call seems to come from the front Desk. But actually, it is a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk.They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information. They sound so professional, that you give it to them, thinking you are talking to the front desk.If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems. Then go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information, acting like a front desk employee.This was sent by someone who has been duped ..... And is still cleaning up the mess.PS: Please consider spreading the word by forwarding this e-mail. Who knows, you might just help someone avoid a nasty experience.

ANYONE travelling should be aware of this.
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Last edited by DebbieJJ; 04-25-2013 at 04:16 AM.

04-25-2013, 04:27 AM

MartiMorga

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: Springville, Tennessee

Posts: 1,123

Thank you so much for this information - it is well worth knowing. Amazes me what "crooks" think of. Just think what they could accomplish with that mind!!!! Just amazes me.

04-25-2013, 04:50 AM

Cagey

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Southern Wisconsin

Posts: 832

Thanks for the heads up. I don't think alot of people would question a call from the "front desk"

04-25-2013, 05:11 AM

QuiltnNan

Power Poster

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC

Posts: 51,433

here is what Snopes says about this phishing scam
http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing/hotel.asp

04-25-2013, 07:43 AM

Jingle

Power Poster

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Outside St. Louis

Posts: 38,181

I by-pass this by not staying in Hotels or Motels.

04-26-2013, 06:11 AM

WMD926

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Minnesota

Posts: 345

thank you for posting this. I copied and sent it out to my contacts in email. It never hurts to be extra careful

04-26-2013, 06:24 AM

tessagin

Power Poster

Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.

Posts: 16,105

Just remember this. If there is a problem with your credit card, it is immediately (within seconds) detected. Ever go to the register and hear the clerk say to you or you overhear; your card is declined? That doesn't happen minutes later. If you know your card is good and you get that kind of call, just tell them you will call the company and get it straightened out. Also tell them to read the account number back to you and ask for the security code on the back to you. Also make note and have short conversation with the clerk and repeat their name in conversation about 3-4 times. If you get that call from the Front Desk they usually say who they are. If you say "Oh thanks John and know the FD clerks name is James or Mary or ? you can report it. Tell them to call you right back because think you actually left it at the desk. A friend of mine did this. Went down to the FD and told them what was going on. The scammer also was nearby and tried to pick up his card. Quick little sting. Nailed the scammer who had a foreign accent and no definite lisp as the clerk at the front desk. The scammer was working out of his apartment/office couple doors down.

04-26-2013, 08:44 AM

solstice3

Power Poster

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Citrus County, Florida

Posts: 10,849

thanks for the tip doing an overnighter in Orlando tonight

04-26-2013, 08:51 AM

Lori S

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Illinois

Posts: 9,312

I have to travel for work and this is a great "heads up" . Thanks for posting.

04-26-2013, 09:00 AM

#10

Nama

Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Posts: 10

One more precaution. When staying at a hotel/motel where keycards are used, NEVER return the keycard. Take it home with you and shred it, cut it up, or otherwise destroy it. I retired from a government agency, and that was what we were told to do when we traveled. The cards frequently have personal information recorded on them (including credit card info, home address, etc.), and when you turn them back in to the front desk, they are usually tossed into a drawer with all the other returned cards. When re-used, the new information is recorded over your information, and all is fine. The problem is while the card is in that drawer. Anyone with access to the front desk can take a few of those cards and use the recorded information. Yes, they need to know what they are doing, but why take the chance. I have destroyed a couple dozen key cards, and have never been contacted regarding the missing cards.