HOTEL KEY CARDS

[k4mrc]

Something to think about!!

this was passed to me - thought i'd warn you all!

 

This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!

 

HOTEL KEY CARDS

 

Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?

 

Answer:

a. Customer's name

B.. Customer's partial home address

c. Hotel room number

d. Check-in date and out dates

e. 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.

[lockpicker1969]

Good info, thank you for that. Now I know how somebody might have accessed my bank account a few months ago.

I know P&O ferries issue the paper/throwaway type for your cabin. Like you said I destroyed mine after the trip.

[key cabin]

Bloody hell that is amazing!.

i never thought for one second that the card had that much info on it, and the amount of times i have given my cards back to the receptionist after business trips.

Thanks for the warning, i can promise you now that i will be bringing my room card back home with me. =D>

[Solid]

Thats really good info and some good points about disposing. I can't help wondering why a hotel receptionist would read a key cards details when all your info is on their computer anyways? I suppose the cleaners or someone else could take the card.

[Growster]

I think this is an old rumour and a false one.

 

I always check on www.Snopes.com before believing it.

 

Here is what they say, let's hope they're right...

 

http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp

 

Best wishes, and thanks to anyone who helped me with my Illinois key query!

 

Chris