# Who's making restaurant reservations in my name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680 "2016-11-21T21:24:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/1 "2016-11-21T21:24:33Z")
OK, this one is odd. My Hotmail account received a notice of a reservation made through OpenTable for lunch, for five people, tomorrow at a restaurant in Calistoga, CA. The reservation had my correct name, which is not part of my Hotmail handle. Also, I’m currently in Texas. Also also, I’ve never opened an account with OpenTable, although it appears that may not be necessary to make a reservation. Not a phishing attempt, near as I can tell. The embedded links in the message led to the actual OpenTable site, where I cancelled the reservation. I didn’t have to input any personal info to make the cancellation. Sorry, folks, whoever you are; you’ll need to find someplace else for lunch. Anyone have a clue what’s going on here? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/2 "2016-11-21T21:36:37Z")
Maybe it’s related to the two magazine subscriptions in my daughter’s name that have been delivered to my house in the last couple of months. She hasn’t lived here in over 5 years, and she didn’t subscribe to either. Seriously, if she wanted them, she’d have used her current address. It’s a plot, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/3 "2016-11-21T22:02:07Z")
Something similar happened to me in 2012. A pricey, well-known local restaurant called us out of the blue to confirm a reservation we never made. Not sure if OpenTable was used or not. I’ve had CC numbers stolen twice, so my pet theory is simply that a CC number belonging to me was purveyed … somehow … and used to make the reservation. Maybe this “tests” the card somehow. I am unclear if the CC number could’ve somehow been used to pay for a meal in absence of the physical credit card. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/4 "2016-11-21T22:22:52Z")
It was me. I don’t like making reservations in my name. I’ll just show up about 10 minutes after the scheduled time and ask if they have a table open. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/5 "2016-11-21T22:34:38Z")
Check with an debit or credit cards you hold for unusual charges, in particular a test charge from that restaurant. Also check your credit reports for inquiries you can’t explain. If everything looks good, keep an eye out for a while for unauthorized charges or credit inquiries. If you have a debit card, keep an eye on that bank account. Also, change your email password and any banking and card passwords and pins. You may want to get new cards with new numbers. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/6 "2016-11-21T22:38:46Z")
My given name is quite boring and it has no rhythm. I always give a “cool” name when making reservations. So, when they call me at the cocktail lounge, I get to answer with the cool name. Yeah, that be me! One of my favorites is Ludwig Wittgenstein. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/7 "2016-11-21T22:55:06Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Check with an debit or credit cards you hold for unusual charges, in particular a test charge from that restaurant. Also check your credit reports for inquiries you can’t explain. > > If everything looks good, keep an eye out for a while for unauthorized charges or credit inquiries. If you have a debit card, keep an eye on that bank account. > > Also, change your email password and any banking and card passwords and pins. You may want to get new cards with new numbers. Seconding this, it sounds exactly like a test charge. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/8 "2016-11-21T23:39:18Z")
Opentable doesn’t require a credit card to make reservations, however. My WAG is that someone who you do business with may have been multitasking and filled out the wrong information for the restaurant reservation. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/9 "2016-11-21T23:48:05Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Opentable doesn’t require a credit card to make reservations, however. > > My WAG is that someone who you do business with may have been multitasking and filled out the wrong information for the restaurant reservation. This happened to a co-worked. Someone fat fingered or possibly misremembered their email address. The actual example was something like [bobsmith@gmail.com](mailto:bobsmith@gmail.com) vs [bob\_smith@gmail.com](mailto:bob_smith@gmail.com) Same thing happens with my Instagram account. My user name must be similar to someone else’s that seems to have really fun friends that tag me in all their adventures. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/10 "2016-11-21T23:56:38Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > … lunch, for five people, tomorrow at a restaurant in Calistoga, CA. At least it wasn’t Yountville, just a ways down the road from Calistoga. That’s home to _The French Laundry_, where meals run around $350/person. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/11 "2016-11-22T03:06:16Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > This happened to a co-worked. Someone fat fingered or possibly misremembered their email address. The actual example was something like > > [bobsmith@gmail.com](mailto:bobsmith@gmail.com) > > vs > > [bob\_smith@gmail.com](mailto:bob_smith@gmail.com) > > Same thing happens with my Instagram account. My user name must be similar to someone else’s that seems to have really fun friends that tag me in all their adventures. I don’t think that’s what happened here. Whoever it was knew and used the OP’s real name. > [@El\_Kabong](#): > > … > The reservation had my correct name, which is not part of my Hotmail handle. > … ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/12 "2016-11-22T03:12:21Z")
**El\_Kabong** , Do you have an account with Open Table? If so this could be the result of a bug on their end, or of someone hacking your Open Table account (for yucks?). ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/13 "2016-11-22T04:57:24Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > **El\_Kabong** , > Do you have an account with Open Table? If so this could be the result of a bug on their end, or of someone hacking your Open Table account (for yucks?). No, I’ve never used them. I’ll keep an eye on my credit card transactions, as some have suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/14 "2016-11-22T05:20:06Z")
As others have mentioned, OpenTable reservations do not require credit card data. As far as test transactions for card fraud go, making a reservation and then showing up to eat and pay for it strikes me as a poor way to go. But then again, credit card fraud strikes me as a poor way to go too, so what do I know? So I’m leaning away from thinking this has anything to do with your credit card. Its pretty weird though. Maybe it is someone you know who isn’t good with internet forms. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/15 "2016-11-22T08:17:24Z")
Two other possibilities, both with fat-fingered email addresses: (1) Some places will look you up when you make a reservation, so that they can offer a personalized service. Given your email address, they may have had enough information to identify you on a look-up site. (2) Someone with the same name as you may have a very similar Hotmail address (melbourne77@hotmail vs melbourn88@hotmail. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/16 "2016-11-22T16:28:43Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > My given name is quite boring and it has no rhythm. I always give a “cool” name when making reservations. So, when they call me at the cocktail lounge, I get to answer with the cool name. Yeah, that be me! > > One of my favorites is Ludwig Wittgenstein. On a dare, I once made dinner reservations at a very nice restaurant in the name of John Smallberries. I could tell the hostess was amused but fighting to hide it. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/17 "2016-11-22T17:36:10Z")
One can store a payment method on the [OpenTable app](https://pay.opentable.com/). The reservation being made likely prompts a small test charge to the card (depending on the restaurant, probably). ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/18 "2016-11-22T17:54:19Z")
Perhaps you made a reservation in the past directly with a restaurant without realizing they used OpenTable behind the scenes, so you did have an account with your name and email. Now someone [mistakenly types your email](https://xkcd.com/1279/) when making a reservation, and it’s linked to your name. I’m with those casting doubt on this being credit card fraud. There are easier and more accurate ways to to test CC numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/19 "2016-11-22T18:39:15Z")
I wouldn’t worry about it. Ignore these reservations. Eventually the restaurants will learn they are not legitimate and will also stop paying attention to them. If someone calls you, just say you did not make the reservation. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680/20 "2016-11-22T18:51:44Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > I wouldn’t worry about it. Ignore these reservations. Eventually the restaurants will learn they are not legitimate and will also stop paying attention to them. > > If someone calls you, just say you did not make the reservation. Well, it’s only the one so far. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-making-restaurant-reservations-in-my-name/772680.md?page=2)