Hotel room warning!!! - The Firearms Forum

11-19-2003, 07:35 AM

Someone sent this to me and it makes sense...unlike the majority of internet info...

swede

This was forwarded on to me...passing along
> >
> > IMPORTANT HOTEL ROOM CARD KEY INFORMATION
> >
> >
> >
> > Southern California law enforcement professionals assigned to detect
> > new threats to personal security issues, recently discovered what type
> > of information is embedded in the credit card type hotel room keys
> > used throughout the industry.
> >
> > Although room keys differ from hotel to hotel, a key obtained from the
> > "Double Tree" chain that was being used for a regional Identity Theft
> > Presentation was found to contain the following the information:
> >
> >
> >
> > a.. Customers (your) name
> >
> > b.. Customers (your) partial home address
> >
> > c.. Hotel room number
> >
> > d.. Check in date and check out date
> >
> > e.. Customers (your) credit card number and expiration date!
> >
> >
> >
> > When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is
> > there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the
> > hotel scanner.
> >
> >
> >
> > An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning
> > device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping
> > at your expense.
> >
> >
> >
> > Simply put, hotels do not erase these cards until an employee issues
> > the card to the next hotel guest. It is usually kept in a drawer at
> > the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!!!!
> >
> >
> >
> > The bottom line is, keep the cards or destroy them! NEVER leave them
> > behind and NEVER turn them in to the front desk when you check out of
> > a room. They will not charge you for the card. (Information courtesy
> > of: Sergeant K. Jorge, Detective Sergeant, Pasadena Police Department)
> >
> >

Marlin · 11-19-2003, 07:50 AM

Both "Truth or Fiction" and Snopes.com have articles on this eRumor.

Here is the link to the in-depth Snopes article:

Hotel Room Card Key

11-19-2003, 08:32 AM

I believe it was 60Minutes last week or so ago they aired this very subject. I don't recall the details but, some chains are applying said info to those cards.
However, they also suggested keeping the card!

FN_Project90 · 11-19-2003, 01:25 PM

I am gonna send this to myth busters to see how many places do this

gpostal · 11-19-2003, 02:06 PM

why would a hotel worker need to invest in a card scanner when all the would have to do is get a print out log on the terminal the hotel uses

FN_Project90 · 11-19-2003, 04:12 PM

the hotel scanner is limited read prolly. And I think they use a seperate one for room cards.
If you just get a strip reader, it will put out all the raw data. And if the hotel computer has backlogging, they can see who printed what if they have employee id #s and what not. Thats why I imagine.

gpostal · 11-19-2003, 04:25 PM

anyone can batch read a credit card terminal ,most do have a "log in" but it don't tell when a read batch was done
any number of a log in will work ,you wouldn't have to give your assinged number

at check out a person could get the personal info right off the screen ,then get the credit card info from the card terminal

you would think this would be less risky then stealing the cards and taking them home ,and cheaper

just last week my sister-in-law had her credit card ran up ,they traced it to a gas station attendent ,fruad protection is worth alot

bottom line a crimal will part a person with their money very easy ,it is just a matter of who is dishonest

LIKTOSHOOT · 11-19-2003, 07:06 PM

Instead of Burbon Legend.........oh never mind.

LTS

tuckerd1 · 11-20-2003, 07:21 AM

Save money, be secure, sleep in your car!!

11-19-2003, 07:35 AM	#1
WyomingSwede Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Hotel room warning!!! Someone sent this to me and it makes sense...unlike the majority of internet info... swede This was forwarded on to me...passing along > > > > IMPORTANT HOTEL ROOM CARD KEY INFORMATION > > > > > > > > Southern California law enforcement professionals assigned to detect > > new threats to personal security issues, recently discovered what type > > of information is embedded in the credit card type hotel room keys > > used throughout the industry. > > > > Although room keys differ from hotel to hotel, a key obtained from the > > "Double Tree" chain that was being used for a regional Identity Theft > > Presentation was found to contain the following the information: > > > > > > > > a.. Customers (your) name > > > > b.. Customers (your) partial home address > > > > c.. Hotel room number > > > > d.. Check in date and check out date > > > > e.. Customers (your) credit card number and expiration date! > > > > > > > > When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is > > there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the > > hotel scanner. > > > > > > > > An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning > > device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping > > at your expense. > > > > > > > > Simply put, hotels do not erase these cards until an employee issues > > the card to the next hotel guest. It is usually kept in a drawer at > > the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!!!! > > > > > > > > The bottom line is, keep the cards or destroy them! NEVER leave them > > behind and NEVER turn them in to the front desk when you check out of > > a room. They will not charge you for the card. (Information courtesy > > of: Sergeant K. Jorge, Detective Sergeant, Pasadena Police Department) > > > > -->

11-19-2003, 07:50 AM	#2
Marlin TFF Admin Staff Chief Counselor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: At SouthernMoss' side forever! Contributor Posts: 13,853	Both "Truth or Fiction" and Snopes.com have articles on this eRumor. Here is the link to the in-depth Snopes article: Hotel Room Card Key __________________ *The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.* *The only criminal class native to the United States is Congress.*

11-19-2003, 01:25 PM	#4
FN_Project90 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 803	I am gonna send this to myth busters to see how many places do this __________________ Things n' Stuff

11-19-2003, 04:12 PM	#6
FN_Project90 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 803	the hotel scanner is limited read prolly. And I think they use a seperate one for room cards. If you just get a strip reader, it will put out all the raw data. And if the hotel computer has backlogging, they can see who printed what if they have employee id #s and what not. Thats why I imagine. __________________ Things n' Stuff

11-19-2003, 08:32 AM	#3
Zigzag2 Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	I believe it was 60Minutes last week or so ago they aired this very subject. I don't recall the details but, some chains are applying said info to those cards. However, they also suggested keeping the card!

11-19-2003, 02:06 PM	#5
gpostal Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,552	why would a hotel worker need to invest in a card scanner when all the would have to do is get a print out log on the terminal the hotel uses

11-19-2003, 04:25 PM	#7
gpostal Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,552	anyone can batch read a credit card terminal ,most do have a "log in" but it don't tell when a read batch was done any number of a log in will work ,you wouldn't have to give your assinged number at check out a person could get the personal info right off the screen ,then get the credit card info from the card terminal you would think this would be less risky then stealing the cards and taking them home ,and cheaper just last week my sister-in-law had her credit card ran up ,they traced it to a gas station attendent ,fruad protection is worth alot bottom line a crimal will part a person with their money very easy ,it is just a matter of who is dishonest

11-19-2003, 07:06 PM	#8
LIKTOSHOOT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 9,367	Instead of Burbon Legend.........oh never mind. LTS

11-20-2003, 07:21 AM	#9
tuckerd1 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Paint Rock Valley, Alabama Posts: 3,147	Save money, be secure, sleep in your car!!