Hotel check in scam WARNING

I just recently stayed at the Gold Coast and checked into my room with no problems.  Upon entering my room, the room phone began to ring.  I answered and was told that this is the front desk calling to advise you that we had a computer failure after your check in and we need your credit card info again so you can be properly checked in.  I then responded rhat I would return to the front desk in a few minutes. The person then repled that she could handle it over the phone by just giving her my card info.  Sensing something was wrong here, I replied that no I would return to the front desk and hung up.  I immediately called the front desk and was told that they never called my room and that everything is fine.  So I head down stairs and find my friend who arrived the night before and told him the story.  He states that he recieved the same phone call and that he gave his credit card info.  I told him that he had been scammed and to call the credit card company immediately.  He did and guess what.  $500  had been taken out and transferred to an unknown account.  He immediately cancelled everything and a Police report was taken.  Do not fall for this upon check in. I tend to think that this may be an inside job as the calls were made within 15 minutes of check in. hotel security stated that they will look into that theory.  We all know how that will turn out.  BE SAFE

Something like this happened to me at a non-casino hotel many years ago. I found out my credit card info had been copied and over $1600 had been charged to my card at the Love Jones Boutique at the Hard Rock. I raised hell when I found out, and while the Hard Rock hemmed and hawed and prevaricated, my bank got on their asses and I got the charges reversed.

I filled out a police report, but of course, since it wasn't a CASINO that had been scammed, the local cops did nothing. It was pretty obvious that this was something that happened on a daily basis at that hotel--they had a gang of thieves at the front desk.

My remedy has been to use a debit card for everything rather than a credit card, and to keep a minimal balance in that account--enough to pay for rooms and food but nothing else. Vegas is indeed chock full of scammers and crooks, so I'm not going to give anybody my credit card info. Nobody.

(That hotel is shut down BTW.)

I believe that the hotel security will definitely look into the matter of it being in house. We left a tip on a pillow for the maid when we checked out of the Fremont many years ago. We decided to stay another night (comped) and got the same room. When we went in the money was gone, but the room hadn't been cleaned up. Security can find the key card that was used, and did. They fired the person taking the money immediately. They should be able to find someone using an in house phone. If not an in house phone, maybe they can find the number used to call the operator and your friends room. There is no way to call a room without going through the operator that I know of. That, of course, doesn't mean it can't happen. I suppose I'm not devious enough to figure a way.

We always use a credit card for everything. All of our cards have a zero penalty for fraudulent charges. We like using other peoples money for as long as possible.

Very useful warning.  Thanks.  Hope they catch the bastards.

Candy

First thing I always do when I enter ANY hotel room is to unplug the phone cord.   Tired of wrong number calls waking me up, don't need to waste my time/be disturbed taking a call from front desk asking if everything is ok after check-in and this scam DPok mentions just adds to the reasons why I'll continue to unplug the phone.   If it's important, they'll text my cell or leave a note under the door.     

I always unplug the clock radio/alarm first thing.  Invariably the guest before me has set it to wake him up...usually in some wee hour of the morning.