BBB warns hotel guests to beware of a phone scam to steal consumers’ credit card numbers.
Recently, a guest at a hotel in the Dallas area received a call in the middle of the night. The caller claimed to be with the hotel, and said the hotel “system had crashed.” The caller said the guest’s credit card number was needed for an audit to be conducted shortly.
The guest refused to give her credit card number, and called the front desk. She was told that the hotel didn’t make the call. The next morning she learned that several guests received similar calls.
Better Business Bureau advises hotel guests to be alert for this scam. Don’t give your credit card information over the phone to someone you don’t know. Hotels will handle any questions about billing at the front desk, not over the phone. Guests who have any doubt about a call from someone claiming to be with the hotel should hang up and call the front desk directly.
For tips on avoiding identity theft and what to do if you’ve been a victim of identity theft, see the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//