Creativity wow.!! This is one of the best scams I have heard about. You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. Typically when checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for any charges to your room) and they don't retain the card. You go to your room and settle in. All is good. The hotel receives a call and the caller asks for (as an 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 me your credit card numbers and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of your charge card.' Not thinking anything wrong, since the call seems to come from the front desk you oblige. But actually, it is a scam by someone calling from outside the hotel. They have asked for a random room number, then ask you for your credit card and address information. They sound so professional, that you think you are talking to the front desk. If you ever encounter this scenario on your travels, tell the caller that you will be down to the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk or call directly and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone tried 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. P.S. Please, consider spreading the word by forwarding this e-mail (as a "bcc"!). Who knows, you might just help someone avoid a nasty experience. ANYONE travelling should be aware of this one! |
Winston timing is great for me as I'm headed up to Denver and it would never cross my mind that this would happen. Thanks!
Winston, I just got back from vacation and fortunately this did not happen to me. Thanks for alerting us to this pitfall.
Winston Heverly I have heard of this. Its crazy what these crooks come up with. If they worked as hard at an honest living as they do at their dishonest living they'd be rich!
I actually just heard on the news that people are going into hotels and leaving delivery menus with a fake number. You call and they say "pizza hut" (for example) and you place an order, give them your credit card into. You won't be having a pizza show up, but might be getting some big charges. And if you happen to be on vacation in say Daytona Beach, then when a bunch of charges show up in Daytona beach and you cry fraud the card holder is less likely to just remove them than when you were home and someone charged something to your card in another city/state. Danged criminals.
I see a lot of the stuff on Internet, but don't fall for it. Everyone be safe and well, and may we all doing great business!
I can't believe how easy this is to do, Tammy, but I'm glad we're all getting the word out! This is just unacceptable! Tammy Lankford
Winston Heverly Excellent alert to another scam to bilk people out of their hard-earned money. Horrible beasts that scammers are; should be shot!
That is a new one and thanks for the update, but I would never give anyone my card number over the phone like that.
Winston Heverly I knew that following you would pay off. Thank you for this, as we travel a lot.
Bill Roberts
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