It always pays to be cautious when you’re traveling. Most of us go the extra mile when it comes to ensuring that we are as safe as possible. That being said, we may also expose ourselves to a number of different problems that could prove to be devastating if there is a scam involved. Unfortunately, some of these scams are getting quite elaborate and before you know it, you could be caught in a trap and end up losing your credit card numbers and your identity.
There is a new scam that you need to be aware of, especially if you are going to be traveling and checking into any hotels. Most of us tend to be cautious but this scam is so well played out that it could catch you unawares. It needs to be taken seriously because it only takes a moment and if you do the wrong thing, you will find that your credit card is stolen before you know it. Nobody wants to get caught in this type of scam, so know how to protect yourself and enjoy your travels.
Quite honestly, I have heard of a lot of hotel scams before but this one is ingenious (even though in a devious way). When you arrive at the hotel, the first thing that you do is check in at the front desk.
In most cases, you provide a credit card to the front desk to cover any charges associated with your room. They swipe the card and hand it back to you.
After you arrive at your room and get comfortable, everything seems to be fine. That is when the hotel would receive a call from an outside number and they would ask for one of the rooms in the hotel. It just so happens that in this particular case, they get your room.
When the phone rings in your room, you answer and the person on the other end of the line says something like this: ‘This is the front desk. We came across a problem with your card when you were checking in and we need your credit card information again. Please read me the card number and the security number on the back of the card’.
Most people would not really think much about this call and it even appears as if it comes from the front desk. In reality, it is somebody calling from an outside number.
They just ask for a random room number or perhaps even lurk to find new people who have checked into the hotel. They ask you for your credit card information and now they have it available.
These scammers are very good at sounding professional. If you ever come across this type of situation, just tell the caller that you will come down and clear up any problems.
After going down to the front desk or calling directly to the front desk, find out if there really is a problem. If there is not a problem, let the hotel manager know that somebody is trying to scam you for credit card information. Tell them everything, including the fact that they are acting like a front desk employee.
If your credit card is stolen in this way, it can ruin your vacation and may even end up costing you a lot of money. Always be cautious when you’re traveling and never assume that anyone is who they say they are unless you know it for a fact.