WHEN YOU CHECK OUT OF A HOTEL THAT USES THE CREDIT-CARD-TYPE ROOM KEY, THE
CLERK OFTEN WILL ASK IF YOU HAVE YOUR KEY(S)TO TURN IN...
OR THERE IS A BOX OR SLOT ON THE RECEPTION COUNTER IN WHICH TO PUT THEM.
THIS IS GOOD FOR THE HOTEL BECAUSE THEY SAVE MONEY BY RE-USING THOSE CARDS.
BUT, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU, AS REVEALED BELOW.

FROM THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS ASSIGNED TO DETECT NEW
THREATS TO PERSONAL SECURITY ISSUES, DISCOVERED WHAT TYPE OF
INFORMATION IS EMBEDDED IN THE CREDIT CARD TYPE HOTEL ROOM KEYS USED
THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.
ALTHOUGH ROOM KEYS DIFFER FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL,A KEY OBTAINED FROM A WELL KNOWN
HOTEL CHAIN THAT WAS BEING USED FOR A REGIONAL IDENTITY THEFT PRESENTATION
WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

A.. CUSTOMERS (YOUR) NAME
B.. CUSTOMERS PARTIAL HOME ADDRESS
C.. HOTEL ROOM NUMBER
D.. CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT DATE
E.. CUSTOMER'S (YOUR) 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!

THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
KEEP THE CARDS, TAKE THEM HOME WITH YOU.
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)
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!
INFORMATION COURTESY OF: PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT - SEND TO ANYONE YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HELP!

http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/police/media/MediaReleases/HotelCardKeyUpdate