I received this in an email from a friend, just want to make sure if it is real or not.
Thanks
Dawn
* * * Remember this for the future * * *
When you check out of a hotel that uses the credit-card-type room key, the clerk will often ask if you have your key(s) to turn in...or there is a box or slot on the Reception counter in which to put them? It's good for the hotel because they save money by re-using those cards. But, it's not good for you, as revealed below.
From the Colorado Bureau of Investigation:
"Southern California law enforcement professionals assigned to detect new threats to personal security issues recently discovered what type of information is embedded in the credit card type hotel room keys used throughout the industry.
Although room keys differ from hotel to hotel, a key obtained from the "Double Tree" chain that was being used for a regional Identity Theft Presentation was found to contain the following the information:
a.. Customers (your) name
b.. Customers partial home address
c.. Hotel room number
d.. Check in date and check out date
e.. Customer's (your) credit card number and expiration date!
When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.
Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee re-issues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically "overwritten" on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process. But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!!!!
The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them in to the fr ont desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting
it up, especially through the electronic information strip!
Information courtesy of:
Sergeant K. Jorge,
Detective Sergeant,
Pasadena Police Department
seems weird that the card would have all that info in it,
cause when u check in they have all your info in the computer along with the room number, so all that should be programed on the card would be the room number. if they had a question about billing, all they would have to do is pull up your info on the front dest computer,
and lets say if they needed a card to swipe to get that info, the only info on that card they would need is the room number, (cause the rest of the personal info is on the computer)
am i making sense or am i totaly rambling.
hehe
The metallic strip on the back of the card is capable of holding far more data than you imagine. I think however, the data is encrypted to the degree that they would have to have a special card reader to pull this off. Even with special equipment, most good companies spend millions on fraud detection (buying patterns, balances, etc.) to deter the most random of these criminals. I don't think this equipment is in the public domain per se because. As an example, I lost my debit card once and not a dime went missing. Yes, someone tried to use it at an ATM and though they wouldn't verify it, photos were taken of the suspect, but I doubt he was ever arrested. Having worked in the industry, very few card issuers prosecute people who don't steal large amounts of money; it's too costly. On the other hand, you have a far better chance to lose your identity and money from credit card issuers who start call center reps at a ridiculous $US7 per hour. They have all of your data, save for a few bites at their fingertips. Think about how easy it is to use a phony ID, get hired, get trained and steal 100s of cards and your data. That scenario is far more real than what you describe.
I generally slip out of a hotel without checking out anyhow..Most often I dont... Thanks for the info and great read of security measures !
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp
The thing that gets me about this warning is the part about,
"When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense."
Of course it doesn't actually mention the fact that the same employee is sitting at the desk behind a computer that holds all your information, what they are saying is on the keycard and so much more...if employees are inclined to steal your information, they don't need a keycard to do it. They can do it right there at the computer that they checked you in with.
I've almost given up worrying about what info about me is floating around in cyberspace. What does piss me off though, since I spend a fair amount of time in hotels, is that why by now can't they anticipate what I want. Since so much info about me is apparently at their disposal I'm surprised that when I check in they don't come right out an say: "Welcome Mr. Zed, we've already arranged to have your favorite meal sent up for room service, you'll find your favorite beverages in the mini bar, your favorite movie is set to begin at 9 pm on the TV, you'll find your requisite 4 pillows on the bed, there are 6 towels in the bathroom, and a 10/10 provider is set to arrive at 11pm. Enjoy your stay."
-- Modified on 10/5/2005 5:18:47 PM
...that they key logs the entry and exit timestampes, gps locs, and thumbnail photos of every girl you've visited and auto-generates an email to your SO informing her of how long you've spent with her...its all done with computers and the internet...far too technical to explain here, but a buddy of mine swore he'd heard about it from 'someone who knows', so be careful!
-- Deep 'ly nervous' Heat
-- Modified on 10/5/2005 9:38:51 PM
There may be some possibility that this is true at some hotels, but I doubt it. Sounds more like an Urban Myth created by someone that sells these cards to the hotels.
Why would the hotel want to put this info on the card? It serves no useful purpose, and can only get the hotel into hot water if someone is ripped off and decides to sue the hotel for negligence. The only info the card needs is what door it is for and what time it is good till (The door has a clock mechanism in it run off a long life battery.)
If someone is really curious, you can always call the Pasadena Police and ask for Sgt Jorge. (Right after you.)
what she had for lunch.
hotel room keys do not contain any personal information. it's illegal. why WOULD they contain personal information?
they are programmed to open a door. they contain information about WHICH DOOR TO OPEN. that's it.
LISTEN TO ME, FOR GOD'S SAKE, PLEASE!!!!! WHEN YOU READ A STORY IN A FORWARDED E-MAIL THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT ON THE NEWS - - IT ISN'T TRUE!
IMPORTANT NEWS DOES NOT BREAK IN FORWARDED E-MAILS.
this has been a public service announcement.
Absolutely. Mr Ledzed (?) This information is also available to the hotel. You should complain to BigHotel.com membership and ask why you are not being given the service they can easily provide. How else can you get frequent flyer miles for the gratuity you gave to the provider?
(Hmmmmm has any provider or agency thought of this yet? Points for Providers. There could be affinity cards so you could build up substantial amounts of provider miles on your PFP card using it for groceries and to take the SO out to dinner.) Such sweet revenge.