Buzz
When checking into a hotel, you're typically asked to provide your credit card to the front desk. If you receive a call from your room requesting additional credit card details, it may seem harmless. However, this could be a scam.
Here’s how it typically plays out: Fraudsters impersonate hotel managers and call guests to ask for credit card details. One Reddit user shared this account:
On a Sunday morning at 10:30, my hotel phone rang, and the manager explained their computer system was down... He said that the system crash had caused delays in processing data. He confirmed my room number, offered an extended checkout (which was perfect for my hangover), and also mentioned compensating the cost of the least expensive night’s stay due to the inconvenience. He noted there were over 30 people waiting in line to check out, and offered to check me out over the phone while I could leave the keys behind. He then asked for my credit card details, which made me uneasy, so I responded that I preferred to provide that information in person.
A recent report from Consumer Affairs highlighted a variation of this scam. In this version, instead of offering a free stay, the scammer claims that the guest's credit card isn't working and urges them to provide their information over the phone. Consumer Affairs recommends this simple guideline to avoid such scams:
Whether you’re receiving suspicious phone calls at home or in your hotel room, or reading questionable messages in your inbox, always keep the anti-scam rule in mind: “Don’t call me, I’ll call you.” If you believe there’s an issue with your payment card and need to contact the hotel front desk, feel free to make the call. But if someone claiming to be from the front desk calls you, do not trust it.
The key takeaway: when you're at a hotel, there should never be a need to provide such information over the phone. For further details, check out the full post.
Photo by (vincent desjardins).
