Since 2008, news about scammers using hotels as their target have been circulating. These days, it’s has been on the rise as many people from many parts of the world have fallen victims of these scams

SCAM ALERT

Recently, our attention drawn to it when a twitter user mentioned it and advised travelers staying at hotels to be careful when they receive suspicious calls requesting for debit card information. Quoting his tweet thread;

“@sunil_sawhney:

NEW HOTEL SCAM
Thread …
This is one of the smartest scams I have heard about.
1 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.

2 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:

3 ‘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 card.’

4 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.*

5 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 them ask if there is a problem.

6 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.

7 Please, consider spreading the word by forwarding this msg.
Who knows, you might just help someone avoid a nasty experience.

*All traveling often should be surely aware of this one!*”

5:22 PM · Feb 3, 2018
5,916 Retweets
1,865 Likes

These scammers have planned their tricks so perfectly that anyone they call would fall for it. They have been using hotels as their targets. They are aware of the high number of guests that visit hotels daily who use their debit cards to pay for almost everything.

HOW TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED 

Scamming is not limited to a country. It can happen to anyone at anywhere. Check out these five ways to avoid being scammed in a hotel when next you’re lodging before these criminals ruin your vacation.