Police in Christchurch are warning of a telephone scam in which callers seek the credit card details of hotel guests.
They callers, who included a man with an Asian accent and a woman who sounded American, asked to be put through to rooms without knowing the names of the occupants.
Sergeant Graham Duncan says one guest was told that it was the front desk calling and provided credit card details to the caller.
But he says the occupant then became concerned and cancelled the credit card after confirming the call was not from reception.
Mr Duncan says callers have tried the same scam at other hotels, including one in Auckland. He says hotels now have policies in place to screen such calls from their guests.
