Stupid scammer, or just stupid?

[infinitemonkies]

Young sketchy looking couple comes into my hotel tonight. They both look to be about 16, he's wearing a stained wifebeater and has about 3 times as many tattoos as teeth.

They tell me they live in Vancouver, and just came in on the last ferry. They don't have reservations, of course. Neither one has any id, neither has any money, and they want me to call his 'dad' and get his credit card details over the phone.

My scammer senses were NOT a-tingle. I think they were just really dumb. My question is this: You live in Vancouver, why the hell did you apparently decide on the spur of the moment to spend the last of your cash taking a 3 hour boat ride over here, where you will be standed for at least 10 hours with nothing to do and nowhere to go? And how, exactly, are you planning to get back?

[EvilEmpryss]

Your answer is ridiculously simple.

Stupid doesn't think that far.

[LillFilly]

Yuuuup.

Strange scam; bet you wouldn't really be talking to his dad!

Reminds me of the girl that stayed in my hotel over the weekend, paying with check left, right and sideways, knowing that they were bad but that they wouldn't be deposited until monday! We caught her when she got greedy though, noticed how many checkbooks she had, and called the police. She also lived only a few blocks away!

[Flying Grype]

You wouldn't be allowed to take the CC details over the phone, would you? You have to have the physical card in front of you in order to use it. At least, that's what I was told when my credit card number was stolen and the thief tried to buy stuff with it. I had my own card in my wallet, so either (a) a fake card was made, and when it wouldn't swipe the cashier would key in the number, or (b) someone was using the number without the card, and if that was the case the employees of the stores where the card was used would be in huge trouble.

[Mr Hero]

You wouldn't be allowed to take the CC details over the phone, would you? You have to have the physical card in front of you in order to use it. At least, that's what I was told when my credit card number was stolen and the thief tried to buy stuff with it. I had my own card in my wallet, so either (a) a fake card was made, and when it wouldn't swipe the cashier would key in the number, or (b) someone was using the number without the card, and if that was the case the employees of the stores where the card was used would be in huge trouble.

It depends on the hotel. In our case we need to have the CC user fill out a CC authorization form along with a readable copy of both side of the card and their photo id. I think they also have to sign the form. Admittedly this may not be perfect because what if the scammer got a hold of the entire wallet? They'd have both the CC and ID.

[EvilEmpryss]

You wouldn't be allowed to take the CC details over the phone, would you? You have to have the physical card in front of you in order to use it. At least, that's what I was told when my credit card number was stolen and the thief tried to buy stuff with it. I had my own card in my wallet, so either (a) a fake card was made, and when it wouldn't swipe the cashier would key in the number, or (b) someone was using the number without the card, and if that was the case the employees of the stores where the card was used would be in huge trouble.

You can pay for plenty of things by credit card over the phone and over the internet. Having a physical card is not always necessary, and even if they have a physical card it's no guarantee that the card is legitimate. Many cons can stamp a card from scratch with a number and run it through a reader to put the info on the magnetic stripe on the back. It will read just like a regular credit card and have the con's name on the front so if ID is checked it will appear to match. Even if the card doesn't swipe a good con can just pass it off as being worn or demagnetized.

I couldn't imagine going to a grocery store and trying to buy things without the physical card, but the pizza places around here will let me call in with my card number and then the drivers never ask to see the actual card when they drop off the food. I've called hotels and done the same, though they (usually) insisted on seeing the card before I checked in.

[MoonCat]

You usually need to provide the security number on the back of the card when you use it online or over the phone, but the scammers are getting good at that, too.

Seems to me that the no-cash rule that some places have could be problematic. These days, I bet fake credit cards are more common than counterfeit bills, and at least you can usually test the bills.

[Sheldonrs]

My guess is that they wanted to get away as fast and far as possible from their burning meth lab.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Stupid doesn't think that far.

Fixed it for you.

[EvilEmpryss]

LOL!

True, but I believe the worst kind of stupid is when you can tell they started thinking, and that they were on the right track, but then something happens and they just..... stop. Then they look around at everyone else like they can't figure out what the problem is.

[QASlave]

I used to work for a Credit Card clearing place. The CC number is REQUIRED to fit a certain algorithm to be valid. Knowing that algorithm, we would fake numbers to use in testing and they would return as valid cards.