Forensic @ hotelopia

chrissy53

I posted this last night on the wrong thread.

I am hoping that someone can help me. I made a booking on my credit card for a 2 night stay in London with Hotelopia. I have received an email from Forensic@hotelopia asking for a photocopy of my card with the numbers blanked out and my signature and a copy of the front and back of my driving license.
Obviously this doesn't ring true and they are saying that if i don't send the information by Tuesday the booking will be cancelled.
If anyone has had this email i would be grateful for any advice.
This morning i have checked my credit card account and payment has been made. As i am a new poster i have had to take the links out but it forensicathotelopia.

Thank you.

Dear Mr/Mrs **** ,

Thank you for making your hotel reservations with Hotelopia.

For security reasons and as per our "Terms & Conditions" you are kindly requested to send us via email or fax the following information:

• The attached form completly filled and signed by the credit card holder.
• Copy of the credit card used to make this reservation (front and back, please remember to hide the 8 middle numbers and CVC code) (E.G. 1234-xxxx-xxxx-3546)
• Copy of the Passport or any Official Identity Document from the credit card holder (E.G driving license).

If we do not receive this information before the 09/06/2011 at 10:00 GMT+1,Hotelopia reserves the right to cancel the reservation services booked by you.

You can send it by fax: 00 34 971 465870
or by e mail: We also inform you that no double charge will be made on your credit card.

Kindly take note that we ask for this information in order to guarantee a secure payment on our web site. Please understand that we must be sure that It is the real credit card holder who is making the payment and not somebody who may be using your credit card fraudulently. If you need any further information please contact our customer service number obtainable on our web page.

Kind regards,

Marian
Forensic Department

Fax: +34 971 465 870

Complejo Mirall Balear - Cam! de Son Fang!s, 100
Torre A, 5ª Planta - 07007 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

jackieblack

I think you're right to be suspicious, I think it's unlikely to be genuine. No reputable company should ask for this kind of information to be sent by email.
If you're worried about your booking being cancelled I would ring Hotelopia (on a number you know to be genuine) and check with them.

oldagetraveller

I would always be suspicious of any one who can't spell licence in the form of a noun!

chexum

Strage - the fax number shows up on a lot of hotelopia/wizzair PR material, also on a few adverts for hotels (one in Mexico - though the number certainly isn't). Their terms of condition certainly elaborates on the need of signed authorisation from the cardholder, and talks about copies of ID and passports, and card details.

I think it's indeed them - but I'm not sure my card issuer would agree with such a practice...

One reason it could be (apart for reducing their risk of proof for no-show customers), is to use the card present style of charging, and so that they can confirm the signature on the card.

martinthebandit

it certainly reads very dodgy to me

KingElvis

Yep, dodgy and very unusual.

jackieblack

oldagetraveller wrote: »

I would always be suspicious of any one who can't spell licence in the form of a noun!

That's American spellcheck for you

hcb42

You would be suprised how backward the hotel industry is..A well known web agent guarantees its hotel bookings by credit card in a similar way.

OP: have you booked a prepaid rate, or one which is cancellable..?

The main issue with one which is cancellable, is if the card is not yours etc and then you dont show up and they cannot charge the card. Or they have poor authorisation procedures. There are other frauds which are regularly tried on with international bookings, and it could be an enhanced security check.

Personally, I would ring the hotel direct and speak to their inhouse reservations department and explain you are concerned about this, and see what they say..

pvt

oldagetraveller wrote: »

I would always be suspicious of any one who can't spell licence in the form of a noun!

It's a Spanish company. It's hardly an indication of fraud if they chose to use American English rather than UK English.

Evilm

I would go to their website and take the contact details from there rather than the received email. Then contact them and verify with reservations if they DID send that email or not.

I've only seen this have to happen for non-UK citizens and then rarely.

jhp

pvt wrote: »

It's a Spanish company. It's hardly an indication of fraud if they chose to use American English rather than UK English.

They are part of The TUI GROUP ( Thomsons etc)