What is the scam? I cant figure it out...

[Wesauking Lion]

As some of you know, I own a small hotel in Samara CR. I have a reservation system but I receive booking request via Facebook, direct email, phone, and through the reservation system.

So...a guy emails me for 3 rooms. I direct him to the website to the reservation system. He says he needs help and wants me to do the reservation for him. He wants to pay up in full up front, split the bill in half and use 2 credit cards. (Flag for me). He wants me to do the reservation for him and then gives me two credit card numbers without me asking. I offer to help him over the phone through the system which is pretty easy. The card numbers have the first 12 digits the same (last 4 are different) with different years of expiration. The registration system has a process - 20% down to reserve and the balance upon check in. Its simple easy and works. His request is way outside the system.

I tell him I can do it but Im going to use PayPal with 2 invoices. Nope... he doesnt want to pay that way even though its simple. It would allow split bill and he can enter the credit information.

Back and forth we go, he wants me to enter and charge his credit card. Its a red flag.
He doesnt pay via PayPal which is easy and meets his request. Flag
Gives me two credit cards without me asking .(I dont want to have the CC info) Flag
Keeps pushing me to run the cards and have his bill paid before he gets here.... Flag

All the while he says he wants the rooms. 3 rooms means anywhere from 6-12 people, planning, transportation. He never mentions any of it. He just wants me to run these cards. I ask if he needs help with transportation or what time he is going to arrive. No answer.

Sorry so long.... This is a scam. If I run the cards....what is he going to do to scam. RLCookie and I have discussed how he could be doing it. We have decided to send it to the Chat.

Thoughts.... Wesauking Lion

 

[Delco Lion]

Is there a chance he could cancel and approach you for a refund?

 

[Wesauking Lion]

He could cancel and want a refund but the refund would go back on his cards. That is the only way I could refund it. For 10 days, I have been going back and forth... His reservation is supposed to start on the 20th. Just wants it paid in full before he arrives. (Flag) . He is not arriving... It has to be a charge/ refund type thing

 

[dsettino54]

Why worry about figuring it out? If it is raising so many flags to you then I wouldn't book him. I would tell him your policy on booking and if they are not acceptable to him then I apologize but I can not accommodate you at this time. No amount of money is worth the potential havoc a scammer could wreak on your business or you personally.

 

[JWB389]

Maybe I'm simplifying it too much, but can you contact the credit card company to verify?

 

[Wesauking Lion]

dsettino54.... you are totally correct. I am not worried about it, just trying to figure it out. He set off too many red flags and it did not add up. Nothing has happened which is good.

 

[Wesauking Lion]

Maybe I'm simplifying it too much, but can you contact the credit card company to verify?

All he gave me was the number and expiration date... and verif code... not sure if it is MC, Visa etc. He just gave this too willingly when I had already gave him an easy option to pay himself

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Who in their right mind wants charges on their credit card to hit as early as possible?

I’d give him the Marcia Brady line - “something suddenly came up” or, better yet as someone suggested, call the credit card company (sorry - just saw your previous email).

 

[GTACSA]

dsettino54.... you are totally correct. I am not worried about it, just trying to figure it out. He set off too many red flags and it did not add up. Nothing has happened which is good.

A couple of possible white flags.

Husband/Wife credit cards can have the same numbers except for the last 4.

It may be this fellow wants to make sure he is paying for the rooms for the other guests so they won't be able to. Just a preemptive strike to make sure he's "picking up the check" so to speak.

 

[Wesauking Lion]

A couple of possible white flags.

Husband/Wife credit cards can have the same numbers except for the last 4.

It may be this fellow wants to make sure he is paying for the rooms for the other guests so they won't be able to. Just a preemptive strike to make sure he's "picking up the check" so to speak.

In two clicks, he could have paid via Paypal and entered his own credit card information. I sent him the PayPal emails... open them, hit the link, and pay...

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

In two clicks, he could have paid via Paypal and entered his own credit card information. I sent him the PayPal emails... open them, hit the link, and pay...

Definitely seems more about how he pays than that he pays.

 

[MJG-90]

He wants these run through now so he can prove to someone else they are paid in full. Later those charges will be flagged as fraudulent by the cardholders. But he’ll already have his cash. And the actual travelers will be screwed. Or you will be screwed if the charges are flagged after the trip has passed.

 

[cjrugger]

All he gave me was the number and expiration date... and verif code... not sure if it is MC, Visa etc. He just gave this too willingly when I had already gave him an easy option to pay himself

I thought based on the number you can tell if its Visa or MC? Or is that just Amex?

 

[Wesauking Lion]

Agreed Midnighter... wants me to process his card within the system. I also though maybe the numbers of the card could be some sort of bug which once I process it...

He wants these run through now so he can prove to someone else they are paid in full. Later those charges will be flagged as fraudulent by the cardholders. But he’ll already have his cash. And the actual travelers will be screwed. Or you will be screwed if the charges are flagged after the trip has passed.

I am not running his card. If he shows up here in two days, he can pay in full in cash. I knew there was something weird happening just could not see how he is putting the scam together.

 

[Wesauking Lion]

I thought based on the number you can tell if its Visa or MC? Or is that just Amex?

its MC starts with 51

 

[MJG-90]

I am not running his card. If he shows up here in two days, he can pay in full in cash. I knew there was something weird happening just could not see how he is putting the scam together.

I understood. I was just trying to hurriedly offer an explanation on my phone while waiting in line for lunch. My point was simply that he's likely scamming someone else for the cash and wanted you to process the cards so it looked like he paid and therefore his "clients" would pay him cash. It's possible he was using stolen Visa gift cards even, so knew the limits on each. Plenty of other possibilities as well. You made the right decision not accepting his "business".

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Agreed Midnighter... wants me to process his card within the system. I also though maybe the numbers of the card could be some sort of bug which once I process it...


I am not running his card. If he shows up here in two days, he can pay in full in cash. I knew there was something weird happening just could not see how he is putting the scam together.

What are the major differences in terms of client/user protection vav PayPal and traditional payment interfaces? How are refunds processed? How fast are they? Etc....

 

[Wesauking Lion]

I understood. I was just trying to hurriedly offer an explanation on my phone while waiting in line for lunch. My point was simply that he's likely scamming someone else for the cash and wanted you to process the cards so it looked like he paid and therefore his "clients" would pay him cash. It's possible he was using stolen Visa gift cards even, so knew the limits on each. Plenty of other possibilities as well. You made the right decision not accepting his "business".

MJG.... 100% correct...stolen cards, Visa Cards, another client... bottom line something is bad. He is not showing up tomorrow and I was right to suspect something was amiss. You are also right, I do not need his business.

 

[lyndj]

Agreed Midnighter... wants me to process his card within the system. I also though maybe the numbers of the card could be some sort of bug which once I process it...


I am not running his card. If he shows up here in two days, he can pay in full in cash. I knew there was something weird happening just could not see how he is putting the scam together.

You might want to make sure the guy understands that he'll have to pay in cash if he shows up.

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

Might just be checking to see if the CCs can be run for high amounts to cancel and use elsewhere for physical goods easily turned to cash, perhaps with fake ID backup. If the cards don’t run in the [antique, gun, marijuana dispensary, whatever], suspicion enters, the face is known, the fake ID may become less valuable, etc.

Fun to theorize but who cares what the play is if you think you’re being played...

 

[Grant Green]

Is there a chance he could cancel and approach you for a refund?

This.

It sounds similar to a scam that people tried with me for guitar lessons.
They want to send me traveler's checks for 6 months worth of lessons up front. The idea is that they will later cancel and request a refund in cash, but before the bank notifies me that the travelers checks were fake.

Not sure how it would work with credit cards, but it sounds a similar scam.

 

[Agoodnap]

Perhaps the guy and his wife just got new cards that have a typical introductory offer that he'll receive a bunch of bonus points if he spends some set amount within a timeframe?

 

[Wesauking Lion]

Might just be checking to see if the CCs can be run for high amounts to cancel and use elsewhere for physical goods easily turned to cash, perhaps with fake ID backup. If the cards don’t run in the [antique, gun, marijuana dispensary, whatever], suspicion enters, the face is known, the fake ID may become less valuable, etc.

Fun to theorize but who cares what the play is if you think you’re being played...

People renting 3 rooms are traveling with a group. He has never said a word about the group... size, number in each room, where they are traveling from... transportation mode. Getting to the Fenix Hotel is not just a quick jaunt from everywhere. It takes a plan. We emailed 20 times and he never mentioned word about any people, plans, or transportation. He only cared about me running the card. Most people are not booking 3 rooms and 5 days on a whim... not in Costa Rica and not at my hotel....

 

[lionville]

People renting 3 rooms are traveling with a group. He has never said a word about the group... size, number in each room, where they are traveling from... transportation mode. Getting to the Fenix Hotel is not just a quick jaunt from everywhere. It takes a plan. We emailed 20 times and he never mentioned word about any people, plans, or transportation. He only cared about me running the card. Most people are not booking 3 rooms and 5 days on a whim... not in Costa Rica and not at my hotel....

He wouldn't ask for a refund to be put on another card (in this case, his own) would he?

 

[BBrown]

As some of you know, I own a small hotel in Samara CR. I have a reservation system but I receive booking request via Facebook, direct email, phone, and through the reservation system.

So...a guy emails me for 3 rooms. I direct him to the website to the reservation system. He says he needs help and wants me to do the reservation for him. He wants to pay up in full up front, split the bill in half and use 2 credit cards. (Flag for me). He wants me to do the reservation for him and then gives me two credit card numbers without me asking. I offer to help him over the phone through the system which is pretty easy. The card numbers have the first 12 digits the same (last 4 are different) with different years of expiration. The registration system has a process - 20% down to reserve and the balance upon check in. Its simple easy and works. His request is way outside the system.

I tell him I can do it but Im going to use PayPal with 2 invoices. Nope... he doesnt want to pay that way even though its simple. It would allow split bill and he can enter the credit information.

Back and forth we go, he wants me to enter and charge his credit card. Its a red flag.
He doesnt pay via PayPal which is easy and meets his request. Flag
Gives me two credit cards without me asking .(I dont want to have the CC info) Flag
Keeps pushing me to run the cards and have his bill paid before he gets here.... Flag

All the while he says he wants the rooms. 3 rooms means anywhere from 6-12 people, planning, transportation. He never mentions any of it. He just wants me to run these cards. I ask if he needs help with transportation or what time he is going to arrive. No answer.

Sorry so long.... This is a scam. If I run the cards....what is he going to do to scam. RLCookie and I have discussed how he could be doing it. We have decided to send it to the Chat.

Thoughts.... Wesauking Lion

Run away, don't walk.
Something really fishy.

 

[BBrown]

All he gave me was the number and expiration date... and verif code... not sure if it is MC, Visa etc. He just gave this too willingly when I had already gave him an easy option to pay himself

Can't you tell by the first 4 digits what type of card?
In any case I think dsettino54 had a good reply.

 

[Wesauking Lion]

He wouldn't ask for a refund to be put on another card (in this case, his own) would he?

I guess he could but I could not do that. No cards have been run and no reservation has been made. I would be astonished if he showed up.

 

[Wesauking Lion]

Wow... I emailed him this morning and asked what time he would be arriving and did he need any transportation... He just responded.. Not sure the my dear part....wow..

Yes, please! and i will be there for 12 noon and tell me the total cost my dear

 

[81b&w]

Terrorists?

 

[mikeinpenna]

Can't you tell by the first 4 digits what type of card?

Yes. And the first six numbers are unique to the issuing bank.

 

[BBrown]

Yes. And the first six numbers are unique to the issuing bank.

Thanks I thought that's the way it worked but wasn't 100% sure.

 

[pandaczar12]

People renting 3 rooms are traveling with a group. He has never said a word about the group... size, number in each room, where they are traveling from... transportation mode. Getting to the Fenix Hotel is not just a quick jaunt from everywhere. It takes a plan. We emailed 20 times and he never mentioned word about any people, plans, or transportation. He only cared about me running the card. Most people are not booking 3 rooms and 5 days on a whim... not in Costa Rica and not at my hotel....

Some hotels want to nickel and dime you, and adding detail can make the cost go up. (i.e. an extra $10 per head charge) While I do think this is some sort of scam, not willingly providing extra info isn't that strange.

Can't you tell by the first 4 digits what type of card?
In any case I think dsettino54 had a good reply.

Yes, I've been on websites that when you enter one digit it knows what brand card you are about to enter.

 

[Delco Lion]

Wow... I emailed him this morning and asked what time he would be arriving and did he need any transportation... He just responded.. Not sure the my dear part....wow..

Yes, please! and i will be there for 12 noon and tell me the total cost my dear

He almost surely has multiple scams going on and is confusing you with another mark.

 

[JWB389]

A lot of info here...
https://creditcardjs.com/credit-card-type-detection

 

[sunshinedynomite]

very odd.

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

People renting 3 rooms are traveling with a group. He has never said a word about the group... size, number in each room, where they are traveling from... transportation mode. Getting to the Fenix Hotel is not just a quick jaunt from everywhere. It takes a plan. We emailed 20 times and he never mentioned word about any people, plans, or transportation. He only cared about me running the card. Most people are not booking 3 rooms and 5 days on a whim... not in Costa Rica and not at my hotel....

OK Great job sniffing out a scam.

 

[rmem]

As some of you know, I own a small hotel in Samara CR. I have a reservation system but I receive booking request via Facebook, direct email, phone, and through the reservation system.

So...a guy emails me for 3 rooms. I direct him to the website to the reservation system. He says he needs help and wants me to do the reservation for him. He wants to pay up in full up front, split the bill in half and use 2 credit cards. (Flag for me). He wants me to do the reservation for him and then gives me two credit card numbers without me asking. I offer to help him over the phone through the system which is pretty easy. The card numbers have the first 12 digits the same (last 4 are different) with different years of expiration. The registration system has a process - 20% down to reserve and the balance upon check in. Its simple easy and works. His request is way outside the system.

I tell him I can do it but Im going to use PayPal with 2 invoices. Nope... he doesnt want to pay that way even though its simple. It would allow split bill and he can enter the credit information.

Back and forth we go, he wants me to enter and charge his credit card. Its a red flag.
He doesnt pay via PayPal which is easy and meets his request. Flag
Gives me two credit cards without me asking .(I dont want to have the CC info) Flag
Keeps pushing me to run the cards and have his bill paid before he gets here.... Flag

All the while he says he wants the rooms. 3 rooms means anywhere from 6-12 people, planning, transportation. He never mentions any of it. He just wants me to run these cards. I ask if he needs help with transportation or what time he is going to arrive. No answer.

Sorry so long.... This is a scam. If I run the cards....what is he going to do to scam. RLCookie and I have discussed how he could be doing it. We have decided to send it to the Chat.

Thoughts.... Wesauking Lion

Too weird. Easy decison, tell him if he can't follow the normal process then he should look elsewhere. Not worth the risk. Surprised you find this a dilemma.

 

[artsandletters]

As some of you know, I own a small hotel in Samara CR. I have a reservation system but I receive booking request via Facebook, direct email, phone, and through the reservation system.

So...a guy emails me for 3 rooms. I direct him to the website to the reservation system. He says he needs help and wants me to do the reservation for him. He wants to pay up in full up front, split the bill in half and use 2 credit cards. (Flag for me). He wants me to do the reservation for him and then gives me two credit card numbers without me asking. I offer to help him over the phone through the system which is pretty easy. The card numbers have the first 12 digits the same (last 4 are different) with different years of expiration. The registration system has a process - 20% down to reserve and the balance upon check in. Its simple easy and works. His request is way outside the system.

I tell him I can do it but Im going to use PayPal with 2 invoices. Nope... he doesnt want to pay that way even though its simple. It would allow split bill and he can enter the credit information.

Back and forth we go, he wants me to enter and charge his credit card. Its a red flag.
He doesnt pay via PayPal which is easy and meets his request. Flag
Gives me two credit cards without me asking .(I dont want to have the CC info) Flag
Keeps pushing me to run the cards and have his bill paid before he gets here.... Flag

All the while he says he wants the rooms. 3 rooms means anywhere from 6-12 people, planning, transportation. He never mentions any of it. He just wants me to run these cards. I ask if he needs help with transportation or what time he is going to arrive. No answer.

Sorry so long.... This is a scam. If I run the cards....what is he going to do to scam. RLCookie and I have discussed how he could be doing it. We have decided to send it to the Chat.

Thoughts.... Wesauking Lion

OT: Are there any golf courses near samara? Google told me there’s a nine hole course at a resort. Any others? Thanks.

 

[sunshinedynomite]

Ball park me.

Me and my wife your place from 12/26 to 1/3 ( my 50th birthday)

 

[Wesauking Lion]

Ball park me.

Me and my wife your place from 12/26 to 1/3 ( my 50th birthday)

8 nights $1200 which includes 13% sales tax

www.fenixhotel.com