Members eeyore Posted February 16, 2007 Members Posted February 16, 2007 Found this on the web recently - thought it might be of interest. Hotel scam targets credit-card users Marketwatch - February 14, 2007 10:48 AM ET NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- If you're staying in a hotel and receive a "helpful" call from the concierge regarding your credit card, beware. Money magazine reports on a new scam making the rounds, and it targets trusting travelers. The premise is simple enough. During your stay at a hotel, you receive a call from someone claming to be from the front desk. "There was a problem with your credit card," they'll say. "Can you please verify your card number and billing address?" But wait -- won't you know if the call is not coming from within the hotel? Not if the fraudster called the front desk first, asking to speak with someone in a specific room or with a common last name such as Johnson. If the front desk successfully transfers the call to your room, it will look like it came from within the hotel. In this case, most travelers are inclined to provide the information. That information can be enough for a scammer to make illegal charges using your credit card. The American Hotel and Lodging Association says that most hotels won't ask you to verify such information over the phone, so if you get such a call, don't fall for it. Instead, tell the caller you'll verify the information in person at the front desk. Follow up at the desk yourself, and you'll likely find out it was a scam. If there indeed was a problem with your card, you can handle it at the desk and be sure your credit-card information is safe. Quote
Members seaboy4hire Posted February 17, 2007 Members Posted February 17, 2007 Good advice. Also hotels will run your card when you check in. At that time the bank will put a hold on x funds plus whatever the incidentals might be. When checking out is when the charge usually goes through minus whatever incidentals. But it is wise to watch your balance because sometimes it can take a week or two for the charges to be finalized especially if you are using a check card. I've had one hotel take three weeks to finalize the charge according to my bank. Hugs, Greg Quote
