To think this is some sort of fraud?

[KatieKittens]

Myself and a group of friends are travelling to Spain next week. Booked an appartment through a well known booking website. Reviews are fine.

Received a confirmation email from the appartment and they stated they needed a security deposit by card in addition to cash for the room at check in.

I emailed them to ask how much this would be. They replied saying that they would take a photo of a credit card but not load it.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? It sounds off...

I mean I asked them how much the deposit would be. We know the price of the room.

Could a fraudulent company be trying their luck and hacked/found out your details from the genuine company? I'd contact the actual company you booked with with details that you already have to see if they have made this request, and if so why

Check with the booking site. Sounds dodgy to me. Why isn't all the payment done through the booking website? Why only cash at check in?

I've had holiday bookings where I had to pay on check-in. They were fine.
I've not heard of this thing with a card, tho. It sounds odd.

It seems to be a legit apartment, have seen reviews online. I’ve booked hotels and apartments through this website before and it’s not been unusual to pay for the rooms on arrival. I tend to pay by card, but I’m sure I could by cash too.

It’s when we get there the want a photo of the card. I’ve never heard of this and concerned about credit card security.

they would take a photo of a credit card but not load it.

Never heard of this before, and I travel a lot.

Sounds dodgy as hell.

Check with the site you booked with. Airbnb? Not used them apart from friends who do it - have been with them in US and those in my home town as hosts. Never a problem apart from us residents getting fed up with it

Thanks for your replies. Confirms what I’m thinking, although one of my friends thinks it could be ok as credit card details are often passed over to hotels.

It’s not Airbnb, it’s a website that I’ve used for booking hotels, hostels and guest houses in the past. The set up with the appartment is that it’s one of several in a block and has a reception.

Normally in my experience you do the security deposit as part of the booking via the third party provider, or directly when you arrive. I would be sceptical too...

Nope, trust your instincts. Don’t do it.

I've very frequently had hotels take an imprint of my credit card on arrival even though the room is prepaid for potential extras.I guess that's the same as a photo?

How about contacting your credit card company and asking them where you'd stand if you did it & they took money without authorisation? If they say no send that reply to the venue & tell them it's not happening,

some places take an imprint of the card for breakages etc maybe its that

Taking a photo of a credit card is very bad and massively opens up the risk of fraud. Pre-authorisations are usually encrypted so no person can access them. Check it out.

Phone the company you did the booking with and ask their advice.