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San Antonio hotels involved in massive credit card theft
If you have spent a night in San Antonio recently, be sure to keep an eye on your credit card statements. Information from 17,000 guests is reported to be involved in a large scale fraud with stolen receipts from 3 different hotels.
Authorities are declining to release the names of these hotels, pending their investigation, but a local newspaper identified one as the Emily Morgan Hotel.
So far, 7 people have been indicted on charges of identity theft and the possession of equipment to make or alter credit cards.
The whole thing probably boils down to criminals who worked at these hotels, and took printouts or copies of credit card receipts off premises with the sole purpose of using them for fraudulent purchases. The case even has some sort of tie to meth.
So, if you stayed in San Antonio, and used a credit card, be sure to keep an eye out for weird charges, and if you do happen to see something you did not authorize, contact your bank right away. In almost all cases, you won't be liable for these fraudulent charges, but you may have some paperwork involved in proving your case.
(Via: Chron.com)
Check out some of these weeeeeird hotels from around the world.
Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Question Mark Feb 2nd 2009 8:34PM
This is not limited to San Antonio hotels. I was the victim of two large charges to my Credit card after giving the number to the reservations desk at a casino hotel in Shreveport LA, to guarantee my reservation. It is till not resolved.
Mark
Kelly Feb 2nd 2009 9:27PM
I wonder if they will tell what other hotels we involved with this? We go to San Antonio quiet often.
I sure hope these people will have to pay for what they have done.
Ed Feb 3rd 2009 1:26AM
They only released the Emily Morgan...so good luck trying to figure out if you are a victim. This is really stupid that they don't release the Hotels involved.
Jodi Feb 2nd 2009 9:34PM
Used priceline a couple of years ago. Then the next month had charges to some hotel in South America. Not sure if it was because of priceline or the hotel we stayed at. It took about 3 months for our credit union to put the charges back in our account. It's more of a pain than anything to do all of the paperwork required.
Deb Feb 2nd 2009 9:43PM
Be wary of hotel employees. When I picked my daughter up from Wash/Dulles a couple of years ago, one of the housekeepers stole a nice necklace I really liked...when they cleaned our hotel room. Lock up your valuables or insist noone comes into your room!
Michael Lynch Feb 2nd 2009 9:57PM
Never leave valuables in your room unattended! I have had diamond rings, visa, and other valuables stolen in Orlando, FL. It's always an inside job. Someone sees you leaving your room, then alerts their accomplice with a house key! It's big business and the police, even though they fingerprint, etc, never catch the perps!
Tyggie Feb 2nd 2009 10:01PM
I once faxed a credit card to a New York hotel (required to get the reservation at that time) for an employee traveling there. Within two weeks after his stay a charge showed up for a weekend at some posh hotel for almost $1,000. Since the employee had returned prior to that the hotel had trouble claiming he signed for it. The credit card company kicked it back on them. My son bought a sandwich with his debit card and next thing we knew somebody charged a $300 on some middle east airline. And that was a fight to get money returned but we did it. Nobody's safe.
John Feb 2nd 2009 11:03PM
A friend is recent AOL user. He got that fake e-mail to update his records. He wasn't aware of any scams so he filled it out. About 2 hours later, American Express called him to question numerous, high charges being made in Turkey. It doesn't take long does it.
Ty Feb 2nd 2009 11:21PM
Add the Hyatt Regency Hill Country to the list. Stayed there two years ago and a three-night stay beginning a day after I had checked out, for $998, was billed to my credit card.
It was easy to pinpoint what happened because it was the first transaction on a new AMEX card left for incidental charges. Challenged the charge through American Express and they got the charge reversed...but not without a fight. Beautiful hotel. Probably one bad apple working the registration desk.
Elizabeth Feb 2nd 2009 11:36PM
I keep a credit card with a $1,500.00 limit. If I think I may need $3,000.00 for a trip I pay $1,500.00 into my card and by the time I have charged airfare and hotels, etc. I am down to a balance that won't hurt too bad if it is used by a thief. I also keep a credit card with a $100.00 maxium for charges at places I am really not sure about. I once had a platinum AMex and some one ran up a $11,000.00 bill. I am much happier knowing what my limits are on the small balance credit cards. Also keeps my spending down. AME X did make the $11,000 good but you never know about next time.
Larry Feb 3rd 2009 12:17AM
I stayed at a motel in SLC, UT, took son to hospital and came back, did not check out, 3 illegal Mexican maids were in my room, I kicked them out of course. 3 days later my credit card had been used for over $3000 before I stopped it. The purchases included top chain cameras, computer and tile. There was also a lady that had her card stolen at the same place for over $5000. I went to the police, tracked the stores who had full ID, even live cam of the thieves, etc. but the SLC police would do nothing, even threatened me when I tried to push to report it. Went to the Mayors office to even get it reported but NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. Not a single question to the motel or the establishments, nothing at all. Millions stolen like this and a chance to make arrests but the SLC police in both SLC and South SLC would do nothing at all in any of the cases for myself or the other person that I knew of. NOT A SINGLE INVESTIGATOR INTO ANYTHING. THAT IS HOW TO SOLVE IT ALL RIGHT, but over 1/3 the populiation of Salt Lake County is illegal Mexicans, afraid to upset the boat?
cc Feb 3rd 2009 1:15PM
you were not a morman,so they didn't care about you. just the cheap labor that they get
Larry Anderson Feb 4th 2009 1:08AM
Thanks for your reply, nice to hear also from anyone and wish we all could do something to kick things around. Ha, however, I am a convert to the LDS Church, do not live in Utah but use to live there for a time, I don't think I would ever like to live there again, such a mess. The problem is not with the Church but the cops are so afraid to upset the balance of the poor illegals, over 1/3 percent in the entire county so they do nothing. The problem with that area is that so many think they have to show how good of Christians they are and allow anyone to do anything and afraid to lift a hand for any cause. Thanks, Larry Anderson
SpiritColorado Feb 3rd 2009 1:00AM
Credit card fraud happens to the tune of billions of $s each year. I got hit when I activated a new card having to purchase an emergency airline ticket. After my first purchase on the card, a week later I got hit for two purchases. I called both companies - one was another airline and one was a .com music store. Both had trouble getting the purchases approved, but the credit card company that issued the new card through our credit union gave them approval. One purchase was in Canada; the other in New Jersey. Had my name spelled wrong and gave them a wrong address/phone. And the credit card company still approved it - without even contacting me. I got info on both purchases and turned it in to the credit card company with my fraud report. Never heard a word back. Both were cleared from my account. Bottomline, I figured an inside job at both the airline (leaking/selling my info) AND credit card company (approving the purchases).
Lee Feb 3rd 2009 1:54AM
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. My wife and I stayed at the Emily Morgan on our Honeymoon. She still has the receipt and valet ticket in a scrapbook.
Syn34 Feb 7th 2009 10:45PM
Ok, some of your comments are just horrible about hotel employees. I'm sure that your experiences have made you more cautious with your personal and financial information. However, not every hotel employee is out to get you. Car sales reps are among the top 5 most dishonest professions in the country, but yet 80% of the population still use car sales reps to make one of the most expensive and important decisions in their life. There are dishonest ppl everywhere. Don't bash all hotel employees to justify your own careless behavior. Being a FDesk Mgr of a very reputable franchise myself, I can tell you my hands touch a lot of sensitive personal, and financial records daily. I have never so much as thought about violating any of our guests finances. Some people are not honest and will try if given the opportunity. Wouldn't that make the c/c holder just as liable as the thief if c/c holder is loose with their info? Don't blame it all on hotel staff. If you plan to pay with c/c, be wise about it or just pay by cash. Most places will accept cash. If they do not.....keep in mind pre-paid debit cards are your best bet if u don't want to or cannot use cash. It is necessary if paying by credit for the hotel front desk staff, auditor and mgmt to have access to your c/c info to pay for your purchases.
Dudley Haas (Wacko, Taxes) Feb 3rd 2009 2:32AM
I don't understand why people steal in this day and time with the economy as good as it is. I believe Bush done a pretty good job as president. I'm proud to be an american, and my bald head and B-9 mole is the reason you and I celebrate our freedoms.
coldcomfort Feb 3rd 2009 5:27AM
Had the same thing happen to me last April when I stayed at the Westin in Las Vegas, apparently a hotel employee started running up charges on my Visa while I was on a plane flying home. A trusted front desk employee exploited the Hotel's billing system and was able to run up charges without actually possessing my card. Fortunately for me, it was a new card and I hadn't activated it yet, Visa called me at home and left messages alerting me to $Thousands in debt from the Casino on my Visa. Called the Hotel and alerted the Manager but he was arguementative so I let Visa handle the investigation. It was Lucky for me I hadn't used the card, I suspect the employee had done this before and possibly the manager was in on the shake down?
betty Feb 3rd 2009 7:46AM
Elizabeth, that,s a good idea . have a credit card
with a small amount on it for different thing,because
people that steal credit cards look for ones that have
larges amounts on them, they try to get as much stuff
as they can off the card. These are inside jobs, and the places don,t want to say it happen at their place
of business because they could be liarble and they don,t want to return charges either.Even some stores do this ,you buy something and take back for a reason
and they wants to give you a hard time to get your money back, I have spoted alot of stores won,t
reduce thing if there some wrong with items, because what your EYES catch someone else EYES might not see.The LAWS are so LAX now ,that why people are
getting away with all these crimes,It,s more easy for the criminals then the people they steal from ,Things are very BACKWARD now days.
toni Feb 3rd 2009 8:28AM
NO not all hotel personnel are crooks. But it only take a few to screw up your life. Think about it people. You are able to enjoy things these people can only dream of. They clean up after you and your gruests and have to go home to squander. So they steal. I guess we need to get unattached to so much credit and using credit cards. They promote no cash it's easier to use c/c but it is also a big risk everytime you use it. Any smoe can get your number and screw you over.
And for the user where the mayor's office or anyone else wanted to get involve.d It's about image if that got out into the media tourism goes down. Same with the hotel manager who denied such a thing would happen.
We are caught in this mess with everything requiring c/c for reservation confirmations etc. In cases where you can use cash I would. The waiters at rest. and other staff are also known to steal c/c info. Clerks at stores.
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