• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

New (to me) travel-related scam

DEScottzz

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
161
Reaction score
16
Points
128
Location
Houston
Here's a scam to watch out for.

We just got back from a week in Orlando. When we got back, there was a box of very expensive merchandise that had arrived while we were gone. We didn't order the stuff. In Texas, we have no need for any $175 knit wool caps to keep our ears warm.

I checked on the credit card web site, and $475 in cold-weather gear had indeed been charged to my card. Interestingly, the scammer knew my address and cell phone number, which were on the invoice.

Here's my best guess on how and why this happened.

Our flight out was very early in the morning, so we used Marriott points to book a room near the airport. Of course, we gave them an address and phone number, as well as a card for incidentals.

A couple days after we left, the fraudulent order was placed. The scammer paid for two-day shipping, so they knew exactly when the merchandise would arrive. What they didn't realize is that I have some remodeling work going on, so there were craftsmen going in and out constantly. One of them put the package inside, so it couldn't be swiped from the front porch.

At first, I thought maybe one of the Orlando restaurants stole my card information. But how would they get my address and phone number, and why would they have the package delivered in Houston? My best guess is that the scammer was somebody at the hotel. (Courtyard near Hobby airport, FYI.)

Pretty clever scam, if you think about it. Who do you think I should report it to?
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,668
Reaction score
9,088
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
You should immediately call your credit card company.
 

DEScottzz

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
161
Reaction score
16
Points
128
Location
Houston
You should immediately call your credit card company.

I've done that. Also called the merchant, and they are sending and RMA label. I'm wondering if either the police or Marriott would care to know.
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,668
Reaction score
9,088
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
I would call the local police, because if the scammers were going to steal the merchandise off your porch, they must have someone local to pick it up, and the police may have gotten other reports about the same activity.
 

bbodb1

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2016
Messages
4,305
Reaction score
3,824
Points
348
Location
High radiation belt of the Northern Hemisphere
Resorts Owned
RCI Weeks: LaCosta Beach Club, RCI Points: Oakmont Resort, Vacation Village at Parkway. Wyndham: CWA and La Belle Maison, and WorldMark.
I've done that. Also called the merchant, and they are sending and RMA label. I'm wondering if either the police or Marriott would care to know.
I cannot hurt to contact them - knowledge is power!
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,462
Reaction score
7,277
Points
948
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
Chances are pretty good that's not the only charge they made or will make.
If you still have online access to the account, check for other charges pending.
.
.
 

DRIless

Guest
Joined
Apr 29, 2017
Messages
1,363
Reaction score
404
Points
143
Here's a scam to watch out for.

We just got back from a week in Orlando. When we got back, there was a box of very expensive merchandise that had arrived while we were gone. We didn't order the stuff. In Texas, we have no need for any $175 knit wool caps to keep our ears warm.

I checked on the credit card web site, and $475 in cold-weather gear had indeed been charged to my card. Interestingly, the scammer knew my address and cell phone number, which were on the invoice.

Here's my best guess on how and why this happened.

Our flight out was very early in the morning, so we used Marriott points to book a room near the airport. Of course, we gave them an address and phone number, as well as a card for incidentals.

A couple days after we left, the fraudulent order was placed. The scammer paid for two-day shipping, so they knew exactly when the merchandise would arrive. What they didn't realize is that I have some remodeling work going on, so there were craftsmen going in and out constantly. One of them put the package inside, so it couldn't be swiped from the front porch.

At first, I thought maybe one of the Orlando restaurants stole my card information. But how would they get my address and phone number, and why would they have the package delivered in Houston? My best guess is that the scammer was somebody at the hotel. (Courtyard near Hobby airport, FYI.)

Pretty clever scam, if you think about it. Who do you think I should report it to?

I would call the local police, because if the scammers were going to steal the merchandise off your porch, they must have someone local to pick it up, and the police may have gotten other reports about the same activity.

DEScottzz Call the POLICE now, it will happen again to someone else. You've hit the nail on the head.
Hobby Airport Marriott is Houston DeniseM
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,668
Reaction score
9,088
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)

Beachclubmum

newbie
Joined
Sep 14, 2016
Messages
692
Reaction score
729
Points
103
Location
Costco
Interesting story.

Ever since that you tube video came out showing the ups guy stealing the fedex package from someone's front porch we have had a front porch camera installed.

My DH says the ordering software would have logged the ip or MAC address of the person who placed the order. Whether or not someone in fraud cares to follow up is another matter.
 

mdurette

Sighting Expert & TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
7,693
Reaction score
5,289
Points
748
Location
New England
I once had a few packages delivered to me/my address that I didn't order. Small stuff and found the charges on my card. When I called the CC company, they mentioned it most likely was someone local that had got my info and planned to pick them up on my porch. The packages were there for a few days as we were out of town. My guess is when they came by they saw a police cruiser in my driveway and kept on driving.

I had a recent situation in Aruba - we went to fill the rental up with gas. It appeared to be pay first - so I went inside while DH was outside. The clerk asked cash or credit. I told her credit and she asked for CC and drivers license. I gave to her and then walked to the door to give DH the thumbs up to start filling. I looked back and the clerk had a piece of paper and she was writing down info from my drivers license. I went back an immediately took the license and CC away from her and changed to cash. Very strange.
 

T-Dot-Traveller

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2015
Messages
4,644
Reaction score
3,592
Points
348
Location
Canada
Resorts Owned
Mayan Palace Regency
Taranova
I had a recent situation in Aruba - we went to fill the rental up with gas. It appeared to be pay first ... I looked back and the clerk had a piece of paper and she was writing down info from my drivers license. I went back an immediately took the license and CC away from her and changed to cash. Very strange.

Because it was Aruba - it is possible that it was simply a policy of getting ID on out of country credit cards . That said - I think I would have paid cash as you did .

There was a TUG thread last year about Westgate wanting passport numbers from non -American residents when a sales presentation was booked . A great out for Canadians & others who prefer
not to give out this info - to avoid the pain .
 

jehb2

TUG Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
2,174
Reaction score
952
Points
473
Location
texas
Years ago in Las Vegas I bought a bottle of Gatorade at a small convenience store and paid with a travelers check. The cashier said "I need your social security number and your birthday." I immediately replied "No you don't." She just laughed and gave me my change.
 

DEScottzz

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
161
Reaction score
16
Points
128
Location
Houston
My DH says the ordering software would have logged the ip or MAC address of the person who placed the order. Whether or not someone in fraud cares to follow up is another matter.

The company said this was a phone order, not an online order, so no ip address to log. Seems that the scammers have worked on refining this plan. I will try to find time today to call the police.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,462
Reaction score
7,277
Points
948
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
Years ago in Las Vegas I bought a bottle of Gatorade at a small convenience store and paid with a travelers check...

That must'a been many years ago. I don't know anyone who'd bother with TC's these days.
The universal availability of ATM's and acceptance of debit+credit cards, made 'em obsolete.
.
 

DEScottzz

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2015
Messages
161
Reaction score
16
Points
128
Location
Houston
A quick update:

I logged in to my credit card account, and found that five new charges totaling almost $10,000 had been made. These were made on 11/28 and 11/29, before I cancelled the card, but posted just recently. It took another call to get rid of them. One of the charges was $1707 for 2 fancy faucets. These actually made their way to me. When I called the company, the guy told me they have four to five thousand dollars of fraud per week. He said that usually, the scammers order the merchandise, then after it's shipped, call UPS to get it sent somewhere else. He's changed his UPS account so that's not allowed any more.

Interestingly, four of the charges were on AirBnB. Each was over $1,800.

The Houston police make it very difficult to report a crime like this on the phone. By calling, I got in line for someone to call me back. They said the call might be in 10 minutes, or it might be at 2 in the morning. It hasn't come yet. But if I don't answer whenever they call, I have to call back the next day and get in line to be called again. I think rather than calling back, I may just fill out a report on the PD web page. That's supposed to be for smaller amounts, but I am not out any money. I just want to tell them where to look for an accomplice.

all, in all, not a pleasant experience.
 
Last edited:

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,462
Reaction score
7,277
Points
948
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
... One of the charges was $1707 for 2 fancy faucets. These actually made their way to me.

Those must'a been some nice faucets.
You are allowed to keep merchandise you didn't order... (but it would be wrong).
 

GT75

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
Moderator
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
4,276
Reaction score
2,754
Points
598
Location
Gig City in Tennessee
Resorts Owned
Legacy HGVC
FAVC-Cabo
I have turned on to be notified whenever there is a charge to any of my CC via text message. Since I also have an apple watch, it is very easy to look at the charge. At first, I activated this feature my mistake (ie. didn't understand what I was activating). Now, I like the feature and find it very useful (plus I also know where my better half is). The only issue that I now have with it is when I get a charge during off-hours for automatic orders. But, I was also recently notified around 10 PM when Ethiopian Air was charging ~$8K to my CC. A simple (however frustrating call) to the CC company to cancel that one and send me another one.
 

Talent312

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
17,462
Reaction score
7,277
Points
948
Resorts Owned
HGVC & GTS
I have turned on to be notified whenever there is a charge to any of my CC via text message... I like the feature and find it very useful (plus I also know where my better half is)...

I'm texted only when the card is not presented... i.e. charges by phone or online.
I can see my DW's transit thru the mall by checking her authorized charges online.


.
 
Top