REPOST: The hazards of hoteling

The Federal Trade Commission advises travelers to be watchful of scams that could turn up during their hotel stay. Below are the most common hotel swindles on FTC’s list.

Image Source: www.enepaltrekking.com

Booking a hotel stay for a summer vacation? Before you check in, check out how scammers try to take advantage of travelers.

The late night call from the front desk

You think you’re getting a late-night call from the front desk telling you there’s a problem with your credit card, and they need to verify the number, so you read it to them over the phone. But it’s really a scammer on the line. If a hotel really had an issue with your card, they would ask you to come to the front desk.

Image Source: www.thepowellhotel.com

The pizza delivery deal

In another scam, you find a pizza delivery flyer slipped under your hotel door. You call to order, and they take your credit card number over the phone. But the flyer is a fake, and a scammer now has your info. Before you order, make sure you check out the business, or get recommendations from the front desk.

The fake Wi-Fi network

You search for Wi-Fi networks and find one with the hotel’s name. But it turns out it’s only a sound-alike and has nothing to do with the hotel. By using it, you could give a scammer access to your information. Check with the hotel to make sure you’re using the authorized network before you connect. Read more tips on using public Wi-Fi networks.

Image Source: hospitalityriskupdate.com

Haven’t booked your trip yet? If you’re thinking of getting a vacation rental, take a moment to read up about rental listing scams. And check out these travel tips, including tell-tale signs that a travel offer or prize might be a scam.

Vijay Dandapani is the president and COO of Apple Core Hotels. Follow this blog for more discussions on the hotel industry.