I checked into Motel 6 at Lantana, Florida on Nov. 8th 2004. The duty clerk always takes the credit cards behind counter (out of sight) to imprint them on a slide machine for room payment. I have stayed there on and off for several years now due to their reasonable rates that saves my company money when I travel. I have never had a problem with them before. There is a night watchman guard who is armed and seems to keep most of the trouble at bay.
I noticed two odd charges on my monthly credit card statement at the end of November for the dates of 11-08-04 and 11-09-04. I called the number listed on the statement next to the charges and was told they were a billing company for Metro PC (a pay-as-u-go cell phone service) out of Texas. After explaining that I did not subscribe to that cell service, they quickly agreed to reverse the charges to my credit card (which they did). I thought it odd that they did not even put up an argument, as if they see that sort of thing on a regular basis. I called my Credit Card Company and they immediately cancelled the card and issued me a new one. I was asked to watch the next billing cycle as some charges would fall under the previous credit card number.
My next credit card statement did indeed show another odd charge with a different phone number reference. I called the number and was told that they were also a telephone billing company out of Texas. They gave me the originating phone number for the person that used my card information. They also gave me the number that the Perpetrator dialed. The originating number was a West Palm Beach phone number that is disconnected, or no longer in service. They dialed a Miami area number for 43 minutes that goes to a porn phone site. I am now in the process of getting that fee credited back to my card.
I fully believe that the clerk at the Motel 6, on the night of Nov. 8th made a copy of my card and either used it or passed it to someone else. The first call was made at 10:18 PM approximately 1 hour after I checked into the motel. The second call was made at 11:37 AM the following morning (Nov. 9th). The perpetrator waited until Nov. 19th to score the other hit on me.
Although the total amount of stolen funds from my credit card only amount to 141 dollars, the perpetrator is obviously milking many credit cards for small amounts to keep a low profile. How many other travelers were and are being bilked out of hard earned money due to this person's unscrupulous activities? This person should be easy to find. Records from the Lantana, Florida Motel 6 should show who was on duty that night (I seem to remember a black female) and follow up on her criminal records. You may just hit the jackpot and clean out a whole organized crime gang. I am sure the Motel 6 Corporate Office would be well pleased to remove these thieving employees.
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