Fraud At The Chicago Convention!
Traveling to the National Halloween, Costume and Party
Show each March has become a yearly ritual for many Haunters from around
the country. Upon returning home attendees look forward to receiving wonderful
surprises in their mailboxes, like brochures and show special reminders.
However, when some people opened their credit card statements they received a
surprise of a different nature - fraudulent charges!
Soon the Internet was buzzing with angry Haunters. As much
as $4,000 dollars was billed to one card number for charges ranging from
parking fines to internet domain names, utility bills and even subscriptions to
porno sites. It was not long before a common denominator was reached; each of
the victims used their credit card at the Holiday Inn Rosemont. If you
bought a drink at the bar, rented a room or even used your card to reserve a
room at the hotel, you were fair game.
Apparently the first fraudulent credit card activity at the Rosemont has been traced
as far back as January of this year. Unfortunately the perpetrator took the
opportunity of the Transworld convention for a shopping spree, and has not
slowed down yet. Recently, accounts of people who have not even arrived at the
hotel yet have gotten fraudulent charges. Needless to say, Dennis Passis
of Transworld is definitely interested in seeing that this problem is resolved
quickly and to our satisfaction, as are the management and ownership of the
Holiday Inn Rosemont.
Detective John Aichinger is working along with three
other detectives on this case, and they have built up a substantial file in an
attempt to track down the criminal. This type of theft is difficult to trace
and more difficult to prosecute. Detective Aichinger is requesting our help to
nab this criminal. In addition to the Rosemont PD, the Chicago PD and the
Secret Service are working on this case. Many of the charges were payments made
to the City of Chicago for people paying off huge accumulations of parking
tickets. Once the payments have been proven as fraudulent, it is the City of
Chicago that will be caught holding the bag.
Anyone who used their card to pay for a meal, drinks or a
room or at the Holiday Inn should take a very close look at each of the
statements since March. If you have fraudulent charges, report these to your
credit card company and cancel the card immediately. Even if you do not see any
fraudulent charges, you might consider having the number changed on your
account. Rest assured that if you have fraudulent charges on your credit card, you
are not liable for those charges. You may have to complete an
"Affidavit of Fraud and Forgery" declaring which of the charges are
fraudulent, and some companies will ask for a police report number as well.
If you have experienced fraudulent charges, please fax a
copy of your credit card statement to the attention of Detective Aichinger at
fax # 847-823-3461 (This is a secure fax machine). Be sure to highlight which
of the charges on your statement are fraudulent and be certain to include your
name, address and phone number(s) along with the credit card account number.
The more details he can get from each of us, the more he can trace a pattern of
activity and, hopefully, make an arrest that will stick. If you wish you may call
and speak with Detective Aichinger at 847-823-1139. It may take a day or two
for him to return your call.
The email list serve of the International Association of
Haunted Attractions was instrumental in breaking the news of the fraud and
where the common thread of the Holiday Inn was discovered. It has already
proven to be a great benefit to members as a forum for communication among
Haunt industry members. A special thank you to Gordon Wise and several
others who came forward early in this scheme and made everyone aware that
"something was afoot."
