Hotel Scam any of us could fall for !!

[csv8]

Hotel Scam any of us could fall for !!


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).

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 number 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
Who knows, you might just help someone avoid a nasty
experience.

ANYONE travelling should be aware of this one!

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

From here: http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing/hotel.asp

Origins: This helpful heads up has been circulating on the Internet since January 2008.

The switchboards of most reputable hotels follow a policy of not connecting incoming calls to guests' rooms unless callers can supply the guests' name. (Some hotels take that policy
an extra step by requiring both guests' names and room numbers before putting through outside calls.) Therefore, while the advice about not giving out one's credit card information to anyone who telephones to ask for it is always worth heeding, in this particular instance, the warning that encompasses it is a bit overblown. Those looking to "phish" your credit card number and the 3-digit security code carried on its back by pretending to be working at the front desk aren't going to be able to smoothly run this con at hotel after hotel, because most places they telephone will refuse to put their calls through — their demands to be connected to "Room 620" will be stonewalled by those managing the property's switchboard unless and until they can also pony up the right name that matches with the hotel's records of who is staying in that room.

However, that this policy is widespread doesn't mean every hotel in existence observes it or that a particularly charming scam artist couldn't occasionally succeed in wheedling a gullible hotel switchboard operator into putting through a call on the basis of a bare room number and nothing else. Also, some hotels allow guests to direct dial to other rooms, which means a con artist who took up residence in such an establishment could potentially run this fraud on others staying there. It is therefore a good idea to always be mindful of the potential for fraud and to make it your own personal policy to never give out credit card information to anyone who calls asking for it, no matter who that person claims to be. In the case of hotel stays, that means not providing such information to the caller, but rather making a trip down to the front desk, or at the very least placing your own call to that facility to ask if there's a problem with your card.

[MITCHAY]

Common sense aint so common.

[zilo]

Without offending the OP it sounds like another "chain mail" letter that gets propagated by us sending it to all our friends...LOL

[cs123]

If people fall for the microsoft scam they can fall for anything.

[supershifty]

Originally Posted by cs123

If people fall for the microsoft scam they can fall for anything.

Wouldn't happen to a Mac user hey?

Lol's

[cs123]

Originally Posted by supershifty

Wouldn't happen to a Mac user hey?

Lol's

Only the really, really stupid ones......

[Yellow_Festiva]

I have no doubt that the hotel scenario would have happened.

Some of the scams I have seen and heard about while on the road are fool proof.

There are some clever buggers out there!

[Mark^^]

and snopes tells us that this is an old myth

This helpful heads up has been circulating on the Internet since January 2008.

The switchboards of most reputable hotels follow a policy of not connecting incoming calls to guests' rooms unless callers can supply the guests' name. (Some hotels take that policy

an extra step by requiring both guests' names and room numbers before putting through outside calls.) Therefore, while the advice about not giving out one's credit card information to anyone who telephones to ask for it is always worth heeding, in this particular instance, the warning that encompasses it is a bit overblown. Those looking to "phish" your credit card number and the 3-digit security code carried on its back by pretending to be working at the front desk aren't going to be able to smoothly run this con at hotel after hotel, because most places they telephone will refuse to put their calls through — their demands to be connected to "Room 620" will be stonewalled by those managing the property's switchboard unless and until they can also pony up the right name that matches with the hotel's records of who is staying in that room.

However, that this policy is widespread doesn't mean every hotel in existence observes it or that a particularly charming scam artist couldn't occasionally succeed in wheedling a gullible hotel switchboard operator into putting through a call on the basis of a bare room number and nothing else. Also, some hotels allow guests to direct dial to other rooms, which means a con artist who took up residence in such an establishment could potentially run this fraud on others staying there. It is therefore a good idea to always be mindful of the potential for fraud and to make it your own personal policy to never give out credit card information to anyone who calls asking for it, no matter who that person claims to be. In the case of hotel stays, that means not providing such information to the caller, but rather making a trip down to the front desk, or at the very least placing your own call to that facility to ask if there's a problem with your card.

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing...8yAe6U6kY2S.99

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Mark^^

and snopes tells us that this is an old myth

This helpful heads up has been circulating on the Internet since January 2008.

The switchboards of most reputable hotels follow a policy of not connecting incoming calls to guests' rooms unless callers can supply the guests' name. (Some hotels take that policy

an extra step by requiring both guests' names and room numbers before putting through outside calls.) Therefore, while the advice about not giving out one's credit card information to anyone who telephones to ask for it is always worth heeding, in this particular instance, the warning that encompasses it is a bit overblown. Those looking to "phish" your credit card number and the 3-digit security code carried on its back by pretending to be working at the front desk aren't going to be able to smoothly run this con at hotel after hotel, because most places they telephone will refuse to put their calls through — their demands to be connected to "Room 620" will be stonewalled by those managing the property's switchboard unless and until they can also pony up the right name that matches with the hotel's records of who is staying in that room.

However, that this policy is widespread doesn't mean every hotel in existence observes it or that a particularly charming scam artist couldn't occasionally succeed in wheedling a gullible hotel switchboard operator into putting through a call on the basis of a bare room number and nothing else. Also, some hotels allow guests to direct dial to other rooms, which means a con artist who took up residence in such an establishment could potentially run this fraud on others staying there. It is therefore a good idea to always be mindful of the potential for fraud and to make it your own personal policy to never give out credit card information to anyone who calls asking for it, no matter who that person claims to be. In the case of hotel stays, that means not providing such information to the caller, but rather making a trip down to the front desk, or at the very least placing your own call to that facility to ask if there's a problem with your card.

Read more at http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing...8yAe6U6kY2S.99

You mean as per here http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...44&postcount=2 (that's post #2 of this thread, in case you missed it)

Not a long thread to have read through...???

Craig H

[Yellow_Festiva]

We all think we are real smart (in general)... 'been around the block a few times' etc but this thread brings back some interesting memories.

Red Square area, Russia.

You are walking behind or cross behind a well dressed business man.

He drops a bundle of cash, in a rubber band.

You, being all helpful and wanting to do the right thing pick up the bundle of money and run after the person.

Once that cash is in your posession you have just taken the bait, and the hook is well and tuly set.

This is how the scam plays out....

You catch up to the chap, who of course has no idea he has dropped the money. You tap him on the shoulder to get his attention and explain that he dropped this cash and you are returning it.

He thanks you, and counts it in front of you. You hang around to make sure all is well, perhaps you are to get a reward?

He tells you that there is $200 (in Rubles) missing from the wad and accuses you of taking the money prior to returning it.

You argue back, explaining what your version is. Now voices start to get raised, a little pushing and shoving may start. If you try to walk away a well prepared arm will grab you and hold you there.

A friendly police man walks past (or is within cooee of this) and comes forward to offer help. How odly convenient.

The story is said a few more times.

The police man explains to you that the business man is a well known local and an honest person, he is not the type to make these sorts of accusations.

You argue back, now you are up against 2. The police man is generally not a fake, and in on the whole thing.

Sometimes a receipt is even produced, showing that a short time prior to the money being dropped XXX Rubles was withdrawn from a teller, and of course the bundle is not equal to the receipt.

You are offered 2 options, pay back the business man now and forget about this whole thing, or get taken to the station and get charged with theft.

Of course, to most people who travel $200 is not all that much money, and you will pay that just to get yourself out of the situation. And most do.

Oh, and if you don't collect the cash?? The Police man, who is watching from a distance will be there to collect or nab the person who does grab it.

Don't care if this is on whatever website. Been there, spoken to people that it has happened to and some Ruski tried it on me.

Saw the cash and did a 180 turn acting like I forgot something ;)

So... how many here would have picked up the money to return it???

[XBROO]

Yeah I'd pick it up and run. LOL That's just taken advantage of good people, but I guess that's how scams work, trusting people.

[monte.b]

We stayed at the Hilton in Brisbane as my wife had a conference there ,booked in and everything was prepaid for by her employer but they wanted a card to take any extras out of which was fine ,we gave them our debt card details ,,i checked the account the next day as i was going for a drink and the grubs had taken $200 out of it ,it took us 7 days and a fight with our bank to get the money back ,the worst part was they never told us they would be robbing our bank account ,it will happen never again

[naddis01]

Don't think the Hilton is the only one that does that...

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by naddis01

Don't think the Hilton is the only one that does that...

Yep, a lot of places take a 'bond' of sorts due to people using dodge cards. Funds are in a "pending" status till the place decides to use it or return it.

Didn't know if that works with a debit card as well?

Did the Hilton have the sensors under the mini bar stuff to know if you picked it up?

[pottery beige]

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zDwIfSDQiE

while back i was snoozing after n/s in karratha and some random dude rings me up

hey a that hotel in merica somewhere you aint there ey

nup

[XBROO]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Yep, a lot of places take a 'bond' of sorts due to people using dodge cards. Funds are in a "pending" status till the place decides to use it or return it.

Didn't know if that works with a debit card as well?

Did the Hilton have the sensors under the mini bar stuff to know if you picked it up?

Yeah it works with debit cards as well and you are correct with the pending status.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Yep, a lot of places take a 'bond' of sorts due to people using dodge cards. Funds are in a "pending" status till the place decides to use it or return it.

Didn't know if that works with a debit card as well?

Did the Hilton have the sensors under the mini bar stuff to know if you picked it up?

The problem with the Hilton chain, in my experience, is that the money sits in the pending state for an exorbitantly long time, ie up to 7 days.

Most places have a policy of returning it to you within 3 business days or thereabouts. The Hilton chain must be making a mint out of using the money on the short term money market.

Craig H

[xxx000]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

The problem with the Hilton chain, in my experience, is that the money sits in the pending state for an exorbitantly long time, ie up to 7 days.

Most places have a policy of returning it to you within 3 business days or thereabouts. The Hilton chain must be making a mint out of using the money on the short term money market.

Craig H

I doubt they can actually even access the money, it's a hold only to cover them

[bobthebilda]

Another scam to be careful of is that you drive down the highway and you see a good looking woman on the side of the road, with a car that has ran out of petrol. You offer to drive her to the nearest petrol station, but she gives you a hard luck story that she hasnt got any money etc. You offer to pay for the petrol and she says she will pay you back when she can. After filling her car, she is eternally grateful and she offers to come back to your house for a drink or two. You agree to it, hoping something might happen. The next morning you wake up with a splitting headache, notice the woman has gone, as well as all your money, credit cards and some electronic goods. It must be a fairly common thing, its happened to me 7 times already.

[Charliewool]

Hey Bob.. That's SO similar to the Bunning's scam...


I know alot of people on here like to get their building supplies from Bunnings so a 'heads up' warning for all men who may be regular Bunnings Warehouse customers. Over the last month or two I became a victim of a clever scam while out shopping.

Simply going out to get a few bolts and brackets has turned out to be quite traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends.

Here's how the scam works: Two very hot 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your stuff into the boot. They both start wiping your windshield with a rag and Windex. With their hot looking wet T-shirts, it is impossible not to look. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say 'No' and instead ask you for a lift to another Bunnings Warehouse. You agree and they get in the back seat. On the way, they start undressing. Then one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over you, while the other one steals your wallet.

I had my wallet stolen on January 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th, & 29th. Also February 1st, 4th, twice on the 8th, 16th, & three times last Saturday and very likely again this upcoming weekend.

So tell your friends to be careful. P.S. In the reject shop you can buy wallets for 50c each.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

I had my wallet stolen on January 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th, & 29th. Also February 1st, 4th, twice on the 8th, 16th, & three times last Saturday and very likely again this upcoming weekend.

So tell your friends to be careful. P.S. In the reject shop you can buy wallets for 50c each.

You really are one sick sheep

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by xxx000

I doubt they can actually even access the money, it's a hold only to cover them

I look at it this way: I can't use that money because it has come out of my account. My bank doesn't have it, because according to them it has electronically been transferred to the Hilton Group. Some 7 days (or so) later, that money comes back into my account. If I don't have the money, and my bank doesn't have the money, then either the Hilton Group, or their bank or another party has my money for that period.

I'm sure someone is using my money to make themselves some money. And I suspect that is the Hilton Group.

Craig H

[Iggle Piggle]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

...you wake up with a splitting headache, notice the woman has gone, as well as all your money, credit cards and some electronic goods. It must be a fairly common thing, its happened to me 7 times already.

You been married 7 times Bob?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zDwIfSDQiE

while back i was snoozing after n/s in karratha and some random dude rings me up

hey a that hotel in merica somewhere you aint there ey

nup

I got the same thing with my bank, got called up asking about a $2 charge from a porn site.

Except it was me giving the $2 trial a go LOL.