exactly what information is on a room key? can you destroy all information on a mag strip?

> Received this from a local agent that thought this should be shared. It
> enlightened me on habits when checking out of hotels. Hope it is helpful
> to you.
> > Southern California law enforcement professionals assigned to detect new
> > threats to personal security issues, recently discovered what type of
> > information is embedded in the credit card type hotel room keys used
> > through-out the industry.
> >
> > Although room keys differ from hotel to hotel, a key obtained from the
> > "Double Tree" chain that was being used for a regional Identity Theft
> > Presentation was found to contain the following the information:
> >
> > a.. Customers (your) name
> > b.. Customers partial home address
> > c.. Hotel room number
> > d.. Check in date and check out date
> > e.. Customers (your) credit card number and expiration date!
> > When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there
> > for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel
> > scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a
> > scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go
> > shopping at your expense.
> >
> > Simply put, hotels do not erase these cards until an employee issues the
> > card to the next hotel guest. It is usually kept in a drawer at the front
> > desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!!!!
> >
> > The bottom line is, keep the cards or destroy them! NEVER leave them
> behind
> > and NEVER turn them in to the front desk when you check out of a room.
> They
> > will not charge you for the card.
> >
> > Information courtesy of: Sergeant K. Jorge,
> > Detective Sergeant,
> > Pasadena Police Department
>