Warning to those who stay in hotels
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:24 am
Just had this through Shell internal mail. As far as I know, it is 100% correct...
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Colleagues
Whilst I do not have a substantiated report where this has happened - I have made enquiries to if it is technically true - which it is and worse. As we all travel extensively throughout the region, can I suggest you pass this on to all the Shell staff in your country and to other interested parties. This did come from the Kent Police in the UK
Ever wonder what is on your hotel 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 re-issues 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!
Recommendations;
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 in to the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal - in UK) 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! You can also use a small magnet and pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, if it does not work it erases everything on the card.
Information courtesy of: Kent Police
Best regards
(name removed)
Regional Security Adviser
Middle East and North Africa
Shell International
Dubai
UAE
*************************************************
Colleagues
Whilst I do not have a substantiated report where this has happened - I have made enquiries to if it is technically true - which it is and worse. As we all travel extensively throughout the region, can I suggest you pass this on to all the Shell staff in your country and to other interested parties. This did come from the Kent Police in the UK
Ever wonder what is on your hotel 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 re-issues 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!
Recommendations;
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 in to the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal - in UK) 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! You can also use a small magnet and pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, if it does not work it erases everything on the card.
Information courtesy of: Kent Police
Best regards
(name removed)
Regional Security Adviser
Middle East and North Africa
Shell International
Dubai
UAE
was gunna say s1 owner in gullible shocker but would have got 
