Hotel scams etc you've encountered

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/08/2013 12:38:01 AM · #1

So I was trying to book some accom for our trip to Europe next month, and I went to book a villa in Venice, and the host asks me to scan my credit card details and give me my passport number for security purposes. Straight away I could smell something fishy going on, so I emailed her back to see why she would be needing copies of my credit card, she hasn't replied.

Pretty sure it's a scam, so anyone else encountered something like this.
What about eurail do I need to get a pass, some websites say Yes some say no waste of money, has anyone used a eurail pass before, we will be using it in Italy mainly, for a month?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

08/08/2013 01:07:07 AM · #2

Having traveled around Italy quite a bit, it's pretty common to request CC details that way from foreign guests. I would NOT email the details in one email since it's relatively easy to intercept the data (on any intermediate server) unless encrypted. I'd read them over the phone or FAX them. Some people will send half of the CC info in one email and the remainder in another.

Can't help you with Eurail, I had a company car. I did take the overnight train from Stuttgart to Milano and that was fantastic.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/08/2013 01:11:07 AM · #3

My biggest warning is to let your CC company know what charges/authorizations you expect for reservations, from what countries and when you expect them and when you'll be traveling. Having you CC canceled while abroad is a true PITA.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/08/2013 01:27:25 AM · #4

Originally posted by Spork99:

Ok good idea, i did notify them a few months ago about my trip, I might remind them.

So are you saying you have done this before, ie sent them copies of your CC?

Message edited by author 2013-08-08 01:27:40.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

08/08/2013 01:43:14 AM · #5

Hotels in Italy do require your passport information - at least they did when I stayed there. Many hotels also require a credit card number to hold a reservation - almost all of them in the US do.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/08/2013 01:50:05 AM · #6

Originally posted by Melethia:

Hotels in Italy do require your passport information - at least they did when I stayed there. Many hotels also require a credit card number to hold a reservation - almost all of them in the US do.

Yes i know about them wanting your CC number, but a scan of the back and front of the card is what signaled my curiosity!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

08/08/2013 03:18:10 AM · #7

RE: Eurail Pass - It's been a LONG time, but I went to Europe in 1988 with a buddy - 3 weeks on a $1500 budget (for both of us!) - we bought Eurail passes before we left and it worked out great because first of all, we planned on flying to Germany (military flight), but all those flights were full and we would have spent days in the airport in Delaware, but there was a flight to Madrid only a third full, so we jumped on it and used the Eurail pass to get moving from there. We ended up getting on the train at least every other night and we would make sure it was at least a 6 hour ride to wherever we went and we slept on the trains most of the time. We rode ALL OVER western Europe in those three weeks and got more than our money's worth with the pass. The Eurail pass was not valid in UK, though, so we dumped a lot of money just to see London.

That said, if your itinerary does not have you traveling a lot, it might not be worth it. Worth researching costs, though. Good luck!

As for being a scam - hard to tell - scanning the card seems strange - especially since it's a hotel/villa - not like they are shipping you anything and want to make sure your card is legit.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

08/08/2013 03:47:37 AM · #8

Sounds like you had fun! We will be using trains only in italy, uk and Ireland a car.
What I've researched is if its just one country you're using the Eurail pass for then it might not come out cheaper! But then again I like the convenience, of it all, ahhh decisions decisions !!

snaffles

Nikon D7100

08/08/2013 05:23:03 AM · #9

Originally posted by Melethia:

...Many hotels also require a credit card number to hold a reservation - almost all of them in the US do.

Ditto for Canada. Mind, I don't blame the OP for being leery when asked to supply cc and passport info! If in doubt I'd check with the closest Italian embassy if possible and see if this is acceptable.

Thinking that this would be a thread on more in-hotel scam, not long ago I read a new book called Heads in Beds. Written by a guy who's spent many years in the industry, his main tip is to ensure that you heavily tip the front desk staff in order to get what you want :-)

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

08/08/2013 05:32:33 AM · #10

Stayed in Venice last year, hotel definitely asked for credit card info before hand, if i had a hotel, i would too.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

08/08/2013 05:46:54 AM · #11

On the passport and credit card piece. It's quite normal checking into hotels here in Ireland to hand over your credit card to get scanned (regardless of how you intend to settle the bill). They do this in case you leave without paying. Then when you check out they destroy the original slip.

When checking into Hotels in Europe, they take your passport. They keep this behind the counter usually for one night. The reason is that they have to register foreign guests with the local authorities.

What sounds unusual about your scenario is that they're asking you for these before you've even arrived. Can they not take them when you check-in?

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

08/08/2013 05:57:03 AM · #12

Hotels in Venice are heavily booked threw out the year, I bet they get quite a few people not showing up and without the card info they can't enforce a penalty, this is a big loss for them, I usually give my card info over the phone. The lengths the hotels go to to get the exact card info is probably proportionate to the let downs they've had in the past.

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

08/08/2013 06:14:15 AM · #13

Originally posted by jagar:

I know they ask for CC details it's the scanning of the back and front of the card I'm not happy with!

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/08/2013 07:20:54 AM · #14

Originally posted by Neat:

I know they ask for CC details it's the scanning of the back and front of the card I'm not happy with!

why? what are they going to do with it they can't already do with the name number and expiration?

Message edited by author 2013-08-08 07:21:26.

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

08/08/2013 07:29:22 AM · #15

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by Neat:

I know they ask for CC details it's the scanning of the back and front of the card I'm not happy with!

why? what are they going to do with it they can't already do with the name number and expiration?

That's correct, I reckon they just want to make sure you give them the correct details.

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

08/08/2013 08:07:17 AM · #16

Originally posted by Mike:

Paranoia!!

Pug-H

Pentax K10D

08/08/2013 09:30:33 AM · #17

29 years ago, I bought a Tansalpino ticket to travel from Finland to England. Transalpino was for the youth traveller, but apparently it doesn't exist anymore. However, in my searches, I found this European Rail guide. Scroll down for single country passes. I think you'll find something useful there.

For example, a month's travel pass (first class only available) would cost $1229.

Message edited by author 2013-08-08 09:32:27.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

08/08/2013 09:52:27 AM · #18

Neat's Credit Card Statement - September 2013

Aug 30 - Venice Villa Ltd. $650
Sep 1 - Mario's Ice Cream Parlour $200
Sep 2 - Italiano Mopeds $2750
Sep 3 - Mama's Pasta Palace $175

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/08/2013 10:46:02 AM · #19

Originally posted by Neat:

Originally posted by Spork99:
My biggest warning is to let your CC company know what charges/authorizations you expect for reservations, from what countries and when you expect them and when you'll be traveling. Having you CC canceled while abroad is a true PITA.

Ok good idea, i did notify them a few months ago about my trip, I might remind them.

So are you saying you have done this before, ie sent them copies of your CC?

Yes, tho I used a FAX. Attaching an image would be better than sending CC info in a plain text email.

I have heard of people emailing their CC info in plain text, having those numbers intercepted and later used. The email was sent to a hotel in Europe, but the purchases were made at a shop in the USA. Evidently there are "sniffer" programs that can search un-encrypted emails passing through infected servers looking for 16 digit numbers that fit the criteria of CC numbers.

Alex_Petrini

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

08/08/2013 10:55:11 AM · #20

It sounds a little strange to me, no hotels asked me something like that (not only here in Italy).

Have you tried to use websites like www.booking.com?

If you need help, feel free to ask.

Hotels in Venezia can be VERY expensive ;)

bohemka

Nikon D700

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

08/08/2013 12:04:43 PM · #21

I wouldn't scan the front and back of your card (they'd have your secure code then). Never heard of that. A card number and expiration is sufficient, and if they say it isn't you should find another place.

Skip the eurorail pass. Won't be a savings for you at all, and since you might often have to buy supplements to get on the exact trains you want you'll have to visit the ticket counter anyway.

Happy travels.

Google Glass Google Glass

08/08/2013 08:51:17 PM · #22

Originally posted by Alexkc:

Maybe bc you're Italian, might be different for others, I finally sent them the details, but without the scanned copy, she was fine with that.

I didn't like the www.booking.com hotels, I found mine on:info@favilletours.com

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/08/2013 09:03:17 PM · #23

One of the scams going around Orlando, Florida hotels is fake restaurant delivery fliers.

Usually pizza. You get back from the theme parks, everybody is hot and tired. There is a flier conveniently slipped under your door marketing delivery pizza etc. So you call, place an order, and give them your credit card number. No food, but a bunch of nice charges on your card. No use driving down to the restaurant. It doesn't exist.

Even the upscale resorts were having problems with this.