catgate Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 I have just received this. I wonder how much truth there is in it?Something to think about!! This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room! HOTEL KEY CARDSEver wonder what is on your magnetic key card?Answer:a. Customer's nameB. Customer's partial home addressc. Hotel room numberd. Check-in date and out datese. Customer's 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 reissues 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 into the front 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!If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.Information courtesy of: Police Service.PLEASE FORWARD to friends and family********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please accept our apologies & destroy it immediately. ********************************************************************** Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Confidential ********************************************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asda Stores Ltd, Registered in England No. 464777. Registered Office: Asda House, Southbank, Great Wilson Street , Leeds LS11 5AD . ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Spoke to a friend who is a manager for one of the large hotel chains.He claims the story is not true - at least for his hotel chain. He can see no reason or merit in coding the key card with credit card info.Is this anothe Urban myth.......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deuces wild Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.aspGood enough for me. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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