A hotel owner accused of ripping off his customers faced a judge Wednesday. He's now charged with eight counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and eight counts of theft of property.
Sixty-one-year-old Gary Becker is accused of over billing eight people by close to $12,000. Becker is the part-owner of Royal Arkansas Hotel in Pine Bluff.
Police say he charged some of the people who stayed here an extra $1,400 — $1,600. Marilyn Ware says she was one of those customers. "You here of crimes like this in the big cities, but never would I have thought it would happen in Pine Bluff."
Ware stayed at the hotel last April, but this weekend a Pine Bluff Detective called and told her to check with her credit card company. Sure enough, just a few days ago, almost a half a year after her stay at the hotel, there was a $1,400 dollar charge.
Marilyn Ware says, "Now when I look back on it. Hind sight. They took a long time checking us in. And it was a long time checking us out. He kept saying I'm trying to get it together, let me get it together."
Lt. Bob Rawlinson, with the Pine Bluff police, says, "It appears he was doing this to make payroll because it appears the hotel is in financial burdon at this point."
Marilyn Ware is not alone according to police; so far all of the victims are from out of state. They are looking to see if there are more victims. The hotel's other part-owner is sending in auditors as well. Now Marilyn Ware is left looking back into her records as well, hoping this is the only extra charge added on by the hotel.
FOX16 News asked, "Do you think you learned a lesson after all of this?"
Marilyn Ware said, "I realized you must check everything you have. You just can't take it up on people as just being nice, that you can trust them."
Police say there are things you can do to protect yourself. Try not to use your credit card at places where it is out of your sight for long periods of time. Most importantly check your statements. Don't just pay the minimum amount and mail it back.
For more tips on protecting yourself visit the FOX16 ID Theft section
