Doesn’t Look Like a Crime Scene, Does It?
If I haven’t posted the last couple of days, it’s because Martine and I took the weekend off and drove to Santa Barbara. We were staying at the idyllic-looking Marina Beach Motel on Bath Street right near the coast in Santa Barbara. It was an ideal location, midway between the marina and Stearns Wharf with their seafood eateries.
Unfortunately, Martine is still not feeling up to par with the traveling pains around her back and shoulder blades (fibromyalgia?). She got tired quickly, and she wasn’t able to sleep comfortably on the king-sized bed in the motel because the mattress was too mushy for her. Also, she was still too exhausted to do much walking at the tourist attractions we visited, about which you will be hearing over the next few days.
More seriously, last night as I was dozing off in the motel room, I received a phone call purportedly from the front desk. It was one “Stacy Anderson” to tell me that the registration records for eighteen rooms in the motel had been lost because of a computer glitch, and would I dictate the relevant info to her over the phone? Because I was groggy and my critical faculties were not operating at par, I complied—including giving “Stacy” my credit card info.
As Bugs Bunny, would say, “Whatta maroon!” Just after I gave this info, I was given an 8-digit “confirmation number” (94184437) and told that I would get 40% off my bill for helping them out. It was at that point that I said the big “Uh oh!” and threw my clothes on.
Naturally, the night crew, who were sitting around sharing a pizza, had no idea of who “Stacy Anderson” was, nor had they called, nor was there anything wrong with their computer. I ran back to my room, picked up my cell phone, and called U.S. Bank to report a credit card fraud. Sure enough, they had already run up a $320 charge with Access Secure Deposits, which I denied having initiated. My credit card was promptly canceled, and I scissored it and distributed the pieces across a wide swath of Southern California.
If you are staying at a hotel or motel, you would do well to distrust any communications over the land line telephone in your room. If it is from the “front desk,” tello them you’ll be right there—and hang up! Don’t be a fool like me.
Tarnmoor 
You might also talk to the management at the hotel. Could this caller call your room direct from outside? Or did the caller have to go through the front desk? Maybe the front desk staff aren’t as innocent as you think.
As for your final admonition, above. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t think of trying to compete with you in that category. Also, I understand the Sierra Club want’s to talk to you about littering.
*wants*
Don’t berate yourself–I almost fell for the “this is Microsoft” calling scam, that is actually famous. Fortunately, I caught myself before giving out information. If I got a call in a hotel room, I might have fallen for it myself. Thanks for the heads up! Hope part of your vacation was fun at least.
I did talk to management. The phone call originated from within the motel, probably from another guest who does this sort of thing from time to time. Guests can always call other guests within the system, because so many people travel in large family groups.
Up until the last evening, it was fun for me, though a bit painful for Martine.
Best wishes to Martine. I can sympathize with those mushy motel room beds even when my back isn’t acting up.
Thanks, Dagny. I’ll tell her.