Facebook user Jack Sng shared in his Facebook about how scammers are targeting hotel guests and warns them to be extremely careful. Calling it “one of the smartest scams I have heard about,” he went on to describe how the scam works.
“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.”
Mr Sng said that the scammers sound so professional that the hotel guests may actually think that the call is from the front desk.
He advised travellers who have to stay over at hotels to tell the caller that they would clear up any problems personally at the front desk itself.
“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,” he suggested.
Mr Sng claimed that he got first hand information about the dishonest scheme from a victim who was duped and is still clearing up the mess. Mr Sng suggested that this scam should be widely publicised so that travellers may avoid a nasty experience.