Former employee at local hotels arrested after allegedly using position to obtain credit card information of guests

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Police Department announced on Tuesday, June 20, that a man who worked at several local hotels has been arrested and charged with numerous financial crimes.

According to the release, 37-year-old Kevin Jamar Wright allegedly used his position to “obtain access to hotel guests’ credit card information.”

Police say the incidents took place while Wright was employed between February and May of 2023.

WECT has reached out to police to learn about the hotels that Wright worked at, but they have not provided that information so far.

Wright is being held at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center under a $3,900,000 bond and has been charged with:

• 66 counts of financial card fraud
• 71 counts of identity theft
• Obtaining property by false pretense

Wright was arrested in Durham in the past for charges such as using false pretenses to obtain property and financial transaction card forgery. Those charges happened between the years 2012 and 2016.

Erin Brannon, the lead detective on the case has tips for those who plan on staying in a hotel.

“Check your bank statements. That’s while you’re on vacation and as soon as you get off of vacation. Verify the purchases that are on your bank statement and or credit card statement is in fact what you spent your money on,” said Brannon.

She said that all of those transactions that Wright purchased occurred after the hotel guests left the Wilmington area.

Taking precautions when making reservations and checking in could make a world of difference to protect yourself.

Remember to provide a credit card and not your debit card when putting a card down with a hotel. That way in case anything bad happens, your bank account isn’t drained, plus fraud prevention is much better with credit cards.

Be wary about using a lobby computer. Try to use your own computer when traveling and ensure you’re on a secure WIFI connection at a hotel.

If something does happen, providing police with as much information is key as well.

“We do need the card numbers for that card. If we can get 16 digits, that’s spectacular. Typically, the last four digits of the card are what we’re looking for, where it was used, the amount and the timeframe,” said Brannon.

Again, keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements days and weeks after your stay.