The federal Trade Commission has issued a warning about scams targeting hotel guests. Next time you’re on the road, be aware of the following three dirty tricks. Be aware and you won’t become the next victim.
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The late night, front desk phone call. This scam starts with a ringing phone. It’s late at night and when the victim answers, the voice on the other hand of the line says he’s from the front desk. “There’s a problem with your credit card,” the voice says. “Could you give us the number again?” Of course, it’s not the front desk, it’s a scammer. The hotel would not likely bother a guest in the middle of the night. They would deal with the issue at the desk in the morning.
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Pizza special! A hotel guest finds a flyer slid under their door. Great deals on pizza! They deliver to the hotel! Sounds great! Unfortunately, the pizza place isn’t real ( or at least the number isn’t), and when you order with your credit card you get no pizza, only fraudulent charges.
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Wi-Fi fake out. Most hotels offer Wi-Fi service, for free or for a fee. Scammers know this and have been known to create their own Wi-Fi networks, with names that sound just like the official hotel network. If a guest logs on, they risk losing personal information to a crook. Guests should always check with the hotel to make sure they are accessing the authorized network.
