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Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Warn Hotel Guests About Scammers During The Holiday Season

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s deputies are warning hotel guests of scammers under the guise of desk personnel to gain access to credit card information.


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Since the holidays are approaching, many people will be traveling and staying at hotels. Because of this, Sheriff’s officials are encouraging people to be aware of the most recent scam.

In these situations, the thief will call the hotel and randomly select a room number to be transferred to.

“Once transferred, the thief will speak professionally and identify themselves as the hotel desk personnel claiming there was an issue with your credit card,” officials said.

They will proceed to verify the card number, the expiration date and the security number on the back of the credit card.

Officials warn that if anyone calls a hotel room asking for verification of private information, do not give it. Bank accounts can be emptied in a matter of minutes, and stolen money is hardly ever recovered.

Real hotel staff will either already have credit card information on file or will ask to meet at the front desk or office, according to officials.

“This scam artist isn’t calling from inside the hotel, and probably will not refer to you by name because they only know the room number,” said Sheriff’s officials.

To avoid being scammed by someone claiming to be from a hotel front desk, here are a few tips:

  • Refuse to give out credit card information over the phone. There are alternatives to dealing with any payment issues.
  • Go to the front desk to handle the problem. If there is a legitimate issue, it can be dealt with. If there is no issue, the scam call can be reported.
  • Just hang up. If the scammer is obvious, there is no reason to deal with them while on vacation, just be sure to inform the real front desk to prevent callbacks.

“Protect yourself during your travels and don’t fall into the scam artist’s trap during the jolly times,” said officials.

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Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Warn Hotel Guests About Scammers During The Holiday Season

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About Jade Aubuchon

A Santa Clarita native, Jade has spent her whole life involved in community outreach. After graduating from Learning Post High in 2015, she went on to College of the Canyons to pursue a double major in English and Marketing. Jade spent several years as a ballroom dance performer for a local studio and has performed at public and private events throughout Santa Clarita. As KHTS Co-News Director Jade oversees the KHTS news team, which covers all the latest news impacting Santa Clarita. Along with covering and writing her own news stories, Jade can be heard broadcasting the daily local news every weekday morning and afternoon drive-time twice an hour on KHTS 98.1FM and AM-1220. Jade is also instrumental in reporting on-the-scene local emergencies, covering them on-air and via Facebook Live and YouTube. Another dimension to Jade’s on-air skills and writing are her regular political and celebrity interviews, including her bi-monthly interview with our Congressman Mike Garcia and many other local politicians and community leaders.