Breakfast, Scams, and Monte: A Night Auditor’s Guide to Hotel Shenanigans
If you think hotel front desk work is all about politely handing out keycards and recommending local pizza joints, think again. Sometimes, it’s a wild ride of fraud, fortune, and—if you’re unlucky—being forced into a 3 Card Monte hustle before you’ve even had your coffee. Such is the life of CountessNightAuditor, a veteran of the graveyard shift whose stories could fill a book (or, at the very least, a heavily upvoted Reddit post).
This time, it’s not just the “I hate you!” guests or the notorious Mr. G—there’s a whole breakfast buffet of bizarre behavior, hard-boiled scams, and a little bit of Night Audit magic. Pull up a chair, because you’re about to get a front-row seat to a tale that’s equal parts entertaining and cautionary.
The Early Bird Catches the…Scammer?
It’s 5 AM. The world is quiet, the lobby is still, and most guests are snoozing away. Enter: our mysterious early riser, wandering down to the desk to ask the all-important question—“Did you make cookies?” (Spoiler: no, there were no cookies. Just the faint aroma of impending chaos.)
After being gently informed that breakfast would be out soon, this guest retreats out back. But as the sun rises and the breakfast shift begins, things get a little weirder. The breakfast supervisor—let’s call her S—spots the guest helping himself to some eggs and pastries, but something about his vibe says “not your average continental breakfast enthusiast.” S is suspicious, but not confrontational, so she asks our Night Auditor to step in.
Here’s where the story takes a turn. The guest provides a name and room number, which checks out…for now. But as S explains, hotels sometimes have to watch out for non-guests sneaking in for free food—an unfortunate reality that ties into broader issues of homelessness and mental health, as CountessNightAuditor notes with empathy.
Shuffle, Hustle, and the Monte Showdown
Just when you think the awkwardness is over, the guest decides it’s time for a demonstration. “I gotta show you my trick,” he says, pulling out three battered cards and launching into a classic 3 Card Monte routine—right in the hotel lobby, before breakfast is even fully set up.
For the uninitiated, 3 Card Monte is a notorious street scam. As one top commenter, u/SkwrlTail, expertly describes, it usually involves an accomplice who helps draw in marks, “winning” a few times to make the game seem winnable. Sometimes, the real goal isn’t even the game—it’s getting close enough for a quick pickpocket.
CountessNightAuditor was wise to watch her belongings: “I worried about the pickpocket part, too. Made sure to check my purse and such after I got away from him.” The guest, not content with just a practice round, even whipped out a fat roll of twenties, peeling off $100 and declaring, “You’d have won this, but you have to show you had the money.” Classic Monte bait-and-switch—let you win when nothing’s at stake, then rig the game as soon as real cash is on the table.
And if you’re wondering how to turn the tables, commenter u/GirlStiletto shares a pro tip: when you suspect a palmed card, flip over the two you think aren’t the winning card. Best-case scenario, you expose the scam. Just don’t expect to get invited to many street games after that.
Digital Check-ins and Fraudsters on the Move
As if a pre-dawn scam demonstration wasn’t enough, the story takes another twist. When the Night Auditor reported the incident to management, it turned out the guest’s entire stay was fraudulent. He’d used someone else’s card and ID, exploiting the hotel’s digital check-in system to bypass the front desk and slip right into a room.
This prompted a lively discussion in the comments about the risks and realities of digital check-ins—a convenience that, as u/Special-Original-215 noted, is becoming more common in major hotel chains. CountessNightAuditor clarified: “It’s pretty common with the whole corporation. It’s the kind of thing where they have to verify you the first time and then after that you can use the app to check-in and get a key on your phone.”
The result? The guest landed himself on the hotel’s Do Not Rent list, breakfast (and scam) privileges revoked.
When Breakfast Isn’t the Craziest Part
If you thought it ended there, think again. As CountessNightAuditor shared later in the comments, the days that followed included a guest who checked in, lit up a joint in front of the hotel, and then managed to get himself arrested for larceny and battery after an altercation. All before the Spring Break rush—when, ironically, things are supposed to “calm down.”
The upshot? Hotel front desk work isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a blend of vigilance, quick thinking, people skills, and sometimes a dash of mischief—like subtly appearing behind a trash-talking guest using the secret Night Audit back routes.
Conclusion: Scrambled Eggs and Scammers—Just Another Shift
So, the next time you see a calm, collected night auditor behind the desk, remember: they might have just survived a game of 3 Card Monte, thwarted a credit card scam, and dodged a pickpocket—all before breakfast. If you’re ever tempted by a street game or a too-friendly “guest,” take a page from CountessNightAuditor’s playbook: keep your wits about you, check your wallet, and don’t be afraid to call out a scam.
Have you ever encountered a hotel scammer or witnessed a bizarre lobby moment? Share your story in the comments below—bonus points if it involves breakfast food or a well-timed magic trick!
Original Reddit Post: Scam And Eggs