Fake Room Service Scams and How to Spot Them

The fake room service scam is a resurgent hotel scam that’s costing guests thousands of dollars. Hungry or thirsty guests make an order in good faith, only to never receive their food and beverages. And, in some cases, much more money is taken out of their account than they realized.

Here are all the facts about fake room service scams and how to avoid them.

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How the Fake Room Service Scam Works

You’ve had a busy day with your family or significant other on a lovely vacation. You’re tired and hungry, and just want to kick back. A menu slid under your door or left outside your hotel room could be very tempting.

This is how the fake room service scam works:

The scammer slides a menu under your hotel door or leaves it just in sight of your room.
You ring the number on the menu and make your order, giving over your credit card information or other payment details.
The scammer either takes the money and never delivers or uses the payment information to rob you of whatever is in your account.

It’s a scam that takes advantage of tourists and tired hotel guests who might not think to check that the menu is legitimate before ordering.

Potential Cost of Fake Room Service Scams

There have been numerous reports of people being scammed by fake menus in this way. A viral TikTok video by @huskymuscles explained the scam and was shared in the New York Post and other major media outlets.

In the video, you can see an example of the menu, which looks very much like a standard room service menu with meals, prices, and times you can order.

The NYP story explained that one family lost over $6,000 when they placed an order using this convincing but fake room service menu. Not only did they never get their food, but the criminal had used the hotel guest’s debit card details to steal thousands of dollars.

Comments on the story by hotel workers confirmed that these scams are rife, and often take the shape of “local” pizza flyers as well as room service menus.

Avoiding Room Service Holiday Scams

Here are some tips to avoid being caught out by the fake room service scam:

Never order from a menu handed to you by someone or slid under your door
Check the hotel’s website to see how to order room service
Or alternatively, go to the hotel’s front desk and ask for their menu and ordering process

If in doubt, show the menu to a member of the hotel’s team. They should be able to instantly tell you whether it’s a genuine menu or a fake. By reporting potential issues to the hotel, you’re also helping protect other guests from being scammed.

Stay Informed About Hotel and Holiday Scams

Your vacation should be a time for relaxation, and you shouldn’t have to spend it watching out for underhanded holiday scams. Sign up for Scam Detector’s Scam Alerts to get regular updates on costly hotel scams and how to avoid them.

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