In a world where many people are trying to get something for nothing… we have seen a huge increase in phone scams occurring at many hospitality establishments across the country. RRI West is not immune to these scams either and we must make a concerted effort to notify and train all GSRs, especially our Front Desk teams. Knowledge of how these phone scams occur and what to do when they think they are happening is key to prevention. There have been several instances of these scams at specific RRI West properties over the past year. Here are some things we have seen from these cases:
The caller often knows the GMs name, the RVPOs name and sometimes other key personnel within RRI West, Red Roof and/or Westmont and uses these names to gain trust with the GSR that this caller is legitimate.
The caller will often claim to be the “owner” of the property.
The caller will use fear tactics to scare the GSR that the owner needs money NOW and that XXXX authorized the GSR to give them money.
When the GSR often explains they have no access to the safe, they caller will again, scare the GSR into giving up their OWN money, promising RRI West, Red Roof, etc. will pay them back.
The caller will discuss extreme payment options, like giving the caller your own personal credit card, leaving the property to withdraw money from an ATM, or even setting up a bitcoin account.
The caller will keep the GSR on the line for extended periods of time, and threatening them not to answer other calls, not to call anyone to verify the validity of the call, and in some cases, warning the GSR to not even help guests who physically come into the lobby.
THESE ARE ALL LIES. No one from Red Roof, RRI West or Westmont will ever call and threaten a GSR or anyone for that matter in exchange for money. No one with the organization will discuss a GSR using their own money to pay anyone.
If you encounter a situation like this, or similar, you should hang up and contact your supervisor immediately. We want all employees to feel safe at work and want to reassure you that through education, communication, and diligence, we will send a message to these scammers that RRI West properties are not a place for them. If you have any questions or concerns – please feel free to speak with your supervisor, any member of RRI West Leadership or Human Resources.
Please see the attached flyer for further information. GMs – please post for all employees. We will be setting up a document acknowledgement through the UKG system this month for all current employees (and all new hires going forward) to acknowledge receipt of this information.
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