Scammers are getting smarter nowadays, and the way to counter them is simple: be even smarter, or at least read more of this kind of articles.
A few days back, a Facebook user, Jack Sng, shared an encounter about a hotel scam that seems ingenious, yet at the same time, pretty silly. Here’s what he says.
New Hotel Scam!
This is one of the smartest scams I have heard about.
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.
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 numbers 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 msg.
Who knows, you might just help someone avoid a nasty experience.All traveling often should be aware of this one!
Ingenious? Seems so. What makes the scam even more realistic is how professional the “front desk” sounds—which, well, would lead some of us lazy travellers to fall into the scam.
But here’s why it’s silly: giving credit card number over the phone has become obsolete.
Many years ago, when telemarketers still exist and online shopping is still relatively new, we would give out our credit card number so that a package or an item can be purchased over the phone. Nowadays, it’s absolutely imperative that credit card numbers must never be given through the phone—be it a voice call or a text message.
Even when we shop online, we have to ensure that the website is encrypted; the URL should comprise https instead of just mere http. These are no longer something technical—it’s common sense.
So here’s the takeaway: if you believe that you could be scammed this way, it’s time to consider getting less complacent. The world isn’t a bed of roses, you know.
Featured Image: hxdbzxy / Shutterstock.com
This article was first published on goodyfeed.com
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