Home > Blogs > Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker > Elizabeth Weintraub: Sacramento Real Estate

Beware of New Credit Card Fraud Perpetrated by Hotels

By Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

February 23, 2016 01:21 AM

Once I started Googling credit card fraud at hotels, I was amazed at what I learned. For example, so many of the reservation systems at hotels are run on older computers: rife with viruses and worms and all sorts of nasty stuff, including scammers ready to grab your personal information and run with it. Yet, guests are forced to use credit cards at hotels. Not to mention, some credit card companies like Chase and Citibank credit back cash, so there is even more of an incentive to use a credit card.

You'll be astounded to read what happened at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami after I stayed there for 3 hours on Christmas. You can read more in my personal blog today at this link: Credit Card Fraud by Mandarin Oriental in Miami.

Comments(16)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

At present, that is a mighty expensive picture you ended up with from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami. I don't think anyone would want the hassle of dealing with the incompetence and fraudulent activity, even for that view.

I'm sure you will get this straightened out without having to get a new card.

Feb 23, 2016 03:01 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Oh, I would not be so sure, Chris Ann Cleland The guest whose room was charged to my credit card -- I tracked him down, if you can believe that. He was astonished this happened (& I got through his email system filters). He's a litigation lawyer. He had paid for his room with AmX card.

Feb 23, 2016 03:17 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Gainesville, VA

Tammy Lankford,

was it an idential charge?

Feb 23, 2016 03:47 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

What the.... That's reallly bad for that hotel. I have to say, I love that he's a litigation attorney.

Feb 23, 2016 03:32 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

My story... the short version. Staying at a hotel and we decided to order pizza from a flier slipped under the door from a place we'd seen down the street. They wanted to charge my credit card. I wanted to pay cash when they arrived at the door. They said "we've had too much people not pay when we arrive with pizza". So I said Okay, I won't have pizza and hung up. But upon looking up in the phone book the number on the flier was NOT the number in phone book for the pizza place down the street. Yup, it was a scam of people who were just trying to get credit card numbers.

Feb 23, 2016 03:38 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sa...

Sacramento, CA
Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Yikes Tammy Lankford --- there's a new scam exposed every day it seems.

Feb 23, 2016 03:39 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Elizabeth -- what a horrible ordeal --- good detective work on your part finding the other guest. It looks as if the saga continues. Here's to a happy ending.

Feb 23, 2016 03:38 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

I called his law office, got a receptionist, asked for him, she hesitated and asked who I was and what I wanted, so I gave her my name. Didn't say why I was calling. She came back on the line and said he was on a call, would I care to leave a v/m. I said I'll wait. She said it sounds like a conference call and could be a long call. Hey, I didn't just fall of a turnip truck. Said I'd send an email and minutes after he called.

Feb 23, 2016 10:57 AM

Conrad Allen

Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA

Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Elizabeth. What an awful experience. Chase and Citibank's reaction really sucks.

Feb 23, 2016 07:10 AM

John Pusa

Glendale, CA

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents Thanks for the warning.

Feb 23, 2016 08:00 AM

Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®

Carmel by the Sea, CA

Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Bet that made the litigation lawyer's day! Go get 'em!!

Feb 23, 2016 08:30 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

When I found him online because I googled him, I thought he looks like a guy who would go to Miami over Christmas for 4 days, hahahaha. And I was right! So then I told him I got a better room rate than he did. Couldn't help myself.

Feb 23, 2016 10:55 AM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

There are few things that makes me feel more violated than a fraudulent charge to a credit card. Thus far, I have been able to rectify those kinds of charges.

I have to agree with Chris Ann, that's a gorgeous picture, but an expensive one as well!

Feb 23, 2016 09:17 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

I'm so used to this $hit that at this point I just said NO, I am NOT letting you issue a new credit card. That's insanity. Enough is enough. I don't care what your rules are, no, the answer is that is unacceptable.

Feb 23, 2016 11:01 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Well, lo and behold I got an email today from the Mandarin that said the charge was reversed. But in talking to Chase, I was told they can't hold off on this any longer than early March and it often takes 15 days to post to an account. Why is it a charge is immediate but a credit can take 2 weeks? What is up with THAT?

Feb 23, 2016 10:53 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Tammy Lankford See, I probably would have given them my CC number and not thought a thing about it, except for when my pizza didn't arrive, LOL. This is good information to know.

Feb 23, 2016 10:55 AM

Debbie Laity

Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO

Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Hi, Elizabeth...thanks for this heads up. I haven't had any hotels mischarge my credit card...at least not yet, but I will be looking.

Feb 23, 2016 01:16 PM

James Dray

Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Elizabeth. All the reason to pay with cash and get a cash receipt.

Feb 23, 2016 06:56 PM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

My last hotel bill in Hawaii exceeded 5 figures, James, and it's not practical to carry around that much cash, LOL.

Feb 23, 2016 11:20 PM

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

Hi Elizabeth. Interesting that you found the other guest and have shown that in fact it was the hotel that tried to scam you.

Feb 23, 2016 07:55 PM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Elizabeth, think the scammers are getting better and better, and our credit is not safe anywhere. Thanks for the reminder when traveling!

Feb 23, 2016 09:58 PM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

While preparing for a class reunion, I used one of those people finder services. After I was done with the service, they continued to bill outrageous amounts. I battled them for several days, while they dug their feet in. But, somehow, after talking the credit card company, they worked it out, and charges were reversed.

It's important to check all charges to credit cards when we get our statements. There is a whole lot of shenanigans that can go on! And, for those who are busy, they can be easily overlooked!

Feb 24, 2016 03:45 PM