In a Facebook post that subsequently went viral, it appears a new hotel scam has emerged.
Picture this: You’re on holiday, everything’s going well, and you’re in high spirits. At your hotel, you check in at the front desk and hand over your credit card as per usual, in case you charge anything to your room. You take it back and head up to your room.
But then the phone rings, and it’s the front desk again. Apparently, there’s been an issue with your credit card and they need your card numbers as well as the three security digits on the other side. Thinking nothing of it — and perhaps feeling too lazy to make your way back down to verify the problem in person — you do as you’re told.
Congrats, you have just been scammed.
Scarily enough, this new scam phone call actually comes from someone outside the hotel who dials in and asks for a random room number. And when they’re connected to the guest room, they pretend to be the front desk.
Just remember to be alert when you’re overseas — it’s always better to double check and make sure things are legit than pay for your carelessness later.
