A recently received e-mail (from the Deputy D.A. in Bakersfield) warns of the type of information that may be embedded in credit card type hotel room keys. This information can include your credit card # and expiration date (as well as your name & address). Hotels don?t erase the card until a new guest checks in so an employee could easily scan a handful of cards and ?go shopping.?

The article recommends destroying your credit card hotel room key ? ?Never? turn it in at the desk and ?never? leave it behind. You won?t be charged.

And if you cut them up, you get free guitar picks (or so I'm told!)

Ignore the email. It's a hoax!

Not exactly true. Read about it here:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar...l_keycards.htm

It has also been brought up on this board. For other Urban Legends, go to www.Snopes.com.

The card also records how often you enter the room and if you invite in anyone whom you are not married to.

Keith

It will also tell if you've ever put anything larger than your elbow into your ear, and will tell if you've ever squeezed a pimple the doctor told you not to.

No. Way.

I have always heard that the government spys on you with those key cards. That and the radio active waves they emit cause cancer.

It also has a UPC microdot to monitor the room's inventory of shampoo bottles and shoe horns. All accrued charges will be posted against your frequent flyer points.

Yikes! I love e-mailing such a warning to friends & Fodors, only to find it's a bloody hoax. This one must really have made the rounds - sounds so plausible.
Lesson learned: from now on I'll check urban legends websites on a regular basis.

GoTravel:

To avoid the radio waves we always sleep with aluminum foil over our heads in hotel rooms, or was it plastic wrap......? <grin>

Maybe the complimentary shower caps are really a safety feature?

Aluminum foil only! The plastic wrap combined with the radio waves causes warts!

hoaxbusters is also a great website, especially for internet disseminated legends. www.hoaxbusters.com

"I love e-mailing such a warning to friends..."

Yikes! is right. In my experience, people HATE being on the receiving end of emails like that. I know I despise them.

I have three cousins who can't control the urge to send such drivel so I've blocked their addresses for incoming mail. I warned them to cease and desist but they did not heed.

My rule is:

1st offense - return email saying please don't send such stuff

2nd offense - your ass is blocked

Marylin, I'm getting no such animal for www.hoaxbusters.com. Are you sure that is the website?

Actually, it's www.hoaxbusters.ciac.com

Hmmmm...I thought I copied it from my address window, but something's gone wrong. Thanks, Patrick!