Traveling: You can lose your Identity!

San Antonio Hotels Involved
in Massive Credit Card Theft
Jan 31st 2009 @ 5:00PM
If you have stayed any nights in San Antonio, watch your credit card statements carefully.
Information from 17,000 guests is involved in a large scale fraud with stolen receipts from 3 different hotels, then used in an identity theft scam to make fraudulent purchases. "Up to this point, we have recovered 1,500 (receipts), but we're estimating 17,000 were compromised," Mark Bartlett, special agent in charge of U.S. Secret Service in San Antonio, told the San Antonio Express-News.
So far, 7 people have been indicted on charges of identity theft and the possession of equipment to make or alter credit cards. The crime was foisted by criminals who worked at these hotels, and information or copies of credit card receipts taken off premises with the purpose of using them for fraudulent purchases. Read more at my blog:
http://identitytheftdynamics.blogspot.com/

Authorities are declining to release the names of these hotels, pending their investigation, but the Express-News identified one as the Emily Morgan Hotel (shown above).
"The Emily Morgan Hotel is working with the U.S. Secret Service in their investigation," general manager Michelle Felton said in a prepared statement. "Since this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on any specific details."Further investigation by members of the South Texas Regional Task Force shows that the stolen receipts were resold among people involved in other criminal acts.
"One of the things we see in these types of crimes is there is some sort of methamphetamine tie," Bartlett said. "We're seeing methamphetamine addicts forming groups to organize themselves to steal identities, distribute the documents and sell them or purchase goods with these identities."So, if you stayed in San Antonio, and used a credit card, be sure to keep an eye out for odd charges, and if you do happen to see something you did not authorize, contact your bank right away. In most cases, you won't be liable for these fraudulent charges, but you may have some paperwork involved in proving your case to police, credit card companies and insurance.What this means to you Personal and Business Travel is becoming more fraught with opportunities for ID theft. There are people who will find ways to access your accounts, violate your life. One person told me of going to a restaurant, and his friend was paying by credit card. This person just happenned to be in sight of the cash register and witnessed the waiter placing his friend's card on the shelf and using his phone/camera to take pictures of both sides of the card. He quickly called the manager and the waiter was fired and arrested. How about those people who did not know? Do not let your cards out of your sight. Call Dan at 502--554-2397 and he can help you protect your ID and cards.