Hotel Electrician Scam

[BRIGHT SPARK]

The scam artist calls your hotel room from an extension line in the hotel and advises that an electrician will call at your room to carry out a vital check and it will take about a minute to do the test. Upon arrival he swaps your door card ..which will be in the power activation slot just inside your door..for a blank card.He then waits in the foyer until you go out or to dinner and then uses your card to get into your room and clear anything worth pinching.

[Mosaic]

Well, a selection of knackered old drawers should stand him in bvrilliant stead.

[Neveracrossword]

If he takes the card out, won't any lights, tv, radio etc go off?

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Never.......the slot generally only requires a card to activate the internal switch...it don't require coding....you could use your Nectar card.

[Hopkirk]

I'll bear it in mind, thanks.

[Psybbo]

Thanks, that's worth knowing

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, I didn't know that. I'd never let an electrician or anyone else into the room unless and until I'd contacted Reception personally.

[Canary42]

So, the solution is to carry a blank card yourself and use that inside the room.

Thanks for the warning.

[VHG]

Sounds very contrived to me.

[Psybbo]

Actually it's the simplicity of the scam that amazes me, I didn't realise that any card would work for the power in the room.

[TheChair]

Well, I've just tried it in my hotel room, and the only card that would activate the electrics was the key card.
Also, how simple is it for the scam artist to call your room from an extension in the hotel?

[rockyracoon]

I always use my Tesco card in the power slot. Never come across one that needs the actual room card.

Are you in a chain hotel Chair?

[Gizmonster]

If a blank card works, then this is a VERY clever scam and I can see people falling for it quite easily.
The "electrician" doesn't even need to phone you - he just knocks on the door and you open it. He's dressed as an electrician and explains that he needs to do some tests, which will take a few minutes max.
You let him, whilst watching him all the time. He takes the card out of the slot, explaining he needs the electric off as he makes a couple of tests. He does a few fake tests and puts a blank card back in the slot, right under your very nose .... job done ...... hmmm gonna watch out for this one .....

[mrs.chappie]

Mosaic for best answer. I'm still chuckling at it. :o)

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Mosaic...talking of knackered drawers...have you rectified the damp patch :-)

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Chair.......some hotels are aware of the situation and have replaced the card switches for coded units...as well as only allowing room to room calls via switchboard.

[TheChair]

rockyracoon, I was in a private hotel in Greece at the time.

[murraymints]

rule 1..NEVER EVER let anyone in your room without a call to reception to check..this scam was tried on me twice in Airoport hotel at Frankfurt

[fiction-factory]

It's a pretty easy scam to pull off provided you can switch the cards without it being obvious. It could just as easily be someone carrying a couple of clean towels or shampoo bottles saying they are going to replace the ones in the bathroom.

[aelmpvw]

//Well, a selection of knackered old drawers should stand him in bvrilliant stead.//

wasn't sure if you meant furniture or underwear

[Mosaic]

Knackered old drawers is all in the reading....I'll leave it up to the reader's fancy. I believe certain ladies used to leave business cards advertising large chest....
Bright Spark thanks for asking, damp seepage is still occurring but the rain has been less heavy and horizontal. I don't expect this to be dry enough to fix until the weather dries out and warms up a little (too chilly for sealant taking local wind chill into account)
So sandbags at the ready over Christmas.