Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

[0x58]

Hey everyone,

I recently (about 3 months ago) received a new credit card due to previous fraud on my account (this is basically my backup emergency card), I didn't use the card until DefCon when I used it for my deposit at the Rio (virgin card, used for the very first time!). I haven't used it for anything else since. This morning I checked my statement due to it suddenly having a balance that didn't make sense, and it looks like my card was stolen...

Called up my credit card company and they took care of it, but they were kind enough to tell me that it was used in Germany, Moldova, New Jersey, New York and a few other places around the world as well, they blocked most of the transaction attempts except three, which they are covering (yay 100% not liable for fraud).

So check your statements and make sure it didn't happen to you. Once again, the ONLY place where this card was used was at the Rio for the deposit that they require and to settle my bill at the end of my stay.

Cheers,
Bert

---

I have since posted this also on Facebook, and two of my friends came forward and also noted that they had attempts and one transaction go through on their cards that were done in NJ and MO. They used their credit cards at the Rio front desk for settling Hotel bills as well. I don't really believe in co-incidences, so I have reason to believe that this may be more widespread.

Once again, just wanted to give everyone a heads up, check your credit card statements and be pro-active about securing them. You can always call up and ask for a new card free of charge in case you want to get out ahead of this issue or want to make sure you can't be a victim of credit card fraud as well.

[kallahar]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Mine's clean, used for hotel only, didn't use it once for anything else.

I highly recommend people carry cash for food, etc. It's not that hard to take a few hundred out of an ATM before you get into vegas, and then use that for all the incidentals. Lowering your exposure is the key!

Also always use credit cards, you have better legal protections in fraud cases. Debit cards they empty your account first, vs credit where you just owe a bill.

Kallahar

[0x58]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Mine's clean, used for hotel only, didn't use it once for anything else.

I highly recommend people carry cash for food, etc. It's not that hard to take a few hundred out of an ATM before you get into vegas, and then use that for all the incidentals. Lowering your exposure is the key!

Also always use credit cards, you have better legal protections in fraud cases. Debit cards they empty your account first, vs credit where you just owe a bill.

Kallahar

Yep, I used cash for everything else... hence why I am able to limit my credit card to having only been used at the Rio front desk for hotel deposit/settling of the bill and nowhere else.

[dc0de]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Mine is clean... and I used it for several things in the Casino and Hotel. Not a single problem here.

Did you leave your card in your room? Have any roommates or other people that you don't know in there?

[TheCotMan]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

I recently (about 3 months ago) received a new credit card due to previous fraud on my account (this is basically my backup emergency card), I didn't use the card until DefCon when I used it for my deposit at the Rio (virgin card, used for the very first time!). I haven't used it for anything else since. This morning I checked my statement due to it suddenly having a balance that didn't make sense, and it looks like my card was stolen...

That sucks. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Some more questions on this:
* Did you use the Rio for all reservations and the entire process or use another 3rd party (Expedia, travelocity, etc.) ?
* If you *only* used the Rio for reservations and not a third party, did you do this online or using the phone?

Maybe answers to these questions can help narrow down a source of risk related to this events.

[YenTheFirst]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

If it's a new card - does it have any RFID or NFC technology? Do your also-affected friends' cards have these as well?

[0x58]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Mine is clean... and I used it for several things in the Casino and Hotel. Not a single problem here.

Did you leave your card in your room? Have any roommates or other people that you don't know in there?

Always on me, trust my room mates fully. Never left my card anywhere unsafe.

[0x58]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

That sucks. I'm sorry this happened to you.

Some more questions on this:
* Did you use the Rio for all reservations and the entire process or use another 3rd party (Expedia, travelocity, etc.) ?
* If you *only* used the Rio for reservations and not a third party, did you do this online or using the phone?

Maybe answers to these questions can help narrow down a source of risk related to this events.

DefCon booked my hotel room for me (Goon), I handed my card to the clerk when checking in, and got it back. At the end of my stay I told them to use my card on file to pay the remaining balance for the two days that DefCon did not cover.

My card wasn't touched by anyone else besides the Rio front desk staff, and that was the first and last time my card was used (No previous transactions with that credit card, no transactions after with that credit card).

If it's a new card - does it have any RFID or NFC technology? Do your also-affected friends' cards have these as well?

No RFID (I cut all of those out, but luckily Bank of America doesn't issue cards with RFID/NFC technology). My also-affected friends' cards also don't have RFID/NFC technology. I understand why you are asking these questions, but this isn't my first time at DefCon and I am well aware of security precautions to take while in Las Vegas for DefCon.

[kallahar]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Yeah, sounds like you did everything right. Unfortunately, even when surrounded by 15,000 "hackers", it's the asshat hotel clerk with a skimmer who is most likely to steal your CC info.

Or... maybe it was the NSA!

Kallahar

[0x58]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Yeah, sounds like you did everything right. Unfortunately, even when surrounded by 15,000 "hackers", it's the asshat hotel clerk with a skimmer who is most likely to steal your CC info.

Or... maybe it was the NSA!

Kallahar

If that is the case, then so be it. All I wanted to do was make other people aware that this is what happened and to be vigilant.

[SkyDog]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

When did you check into the hotel?

If that is the case, then so be it. All I wanted to do was make other people aware that this is what happened and to be vigilant.

[0x58]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

When did you check into the hotel?

Wednesday the 25th of July. It was later at night, I'd say around 8 or 9 PM, just drove in from Colorado.

[SkyDog]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Hmmm. Just trying to find a commonality amongst the people that have commented that they got compromised. Nothing jumps out yet.

Wednesday the 25th of July. It was later at night, I'd say around 8 or 9 PM, just drove in from Colorado.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

Hmmm. Just trying to find a commonality amongst the people that have commented that they got compromised. Nothing jumps out yet.

I was talking to someone else over online chat, who has been to several Defcon, and they say other goons have complained about problems with credit card fraud this year, unlike other years, and only with credit cards used for their goon room check-in at the Rio. I've asked them for more details, so I can proxy them here while letting them remain anonymous. If we do get more information, maybe it will help to identify a common cause, such as a specific person at the Room Check-in Desk. This information is proxied, as second-hand information, but so far it sounds a lot like 0x58's experience with check-in at the Rio with limited use of the Credit cards anywhere but holding the hotel room.

[Rand0mh3r0_]

Re: Credit Card fraud after use at Rio Hotel Las Vegas

That sucks to hear man. Glad to hear your CC company was good about taking care of things. Nothing odd on my end but I only really used it for food purchases on and off hotel and once at the front desk at check in.