Three Hilton-affiliated hotels in San José are warning customers about a fraud scheme in which scammers are posing as hotel employees to sell event services and request payments through unofficial channels.
The situation has been reported at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton in downtown San José, the Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana, and the Hilton San José La Sabana, all properties administered by CLS Hospitality Group. The company said the scheme involves people pretending to work for the hotels and contacting potential clients interested in organizing weddings, quinceañeras, and corporate events.
The scammers are allegedly presenting themselves as sales executives in order to arrange fraudulent reservations and collect money outside the hotels’ official payment systems. The company said it is following up on the case to prevent additional incidents and protect both clients and the tourism sector.
The warning is especially pertinent for people planning events in San José, where the three hotels are well-known venues for business and social gatherings. The Gran Hotel Costa Rica is located on Avenida Central near the National Theater and Plaza de la Cultura, while the Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana and Hilton San José La Sabana are located in the La Sabana area near the National Stadium.
Clients are being urged to verify all communications before making payments. The company said official communications should come only from verified institutional domains. It also warned that none of the hotels request payments through personal bank accounts, unofficial messaging apps, or informal channels.
Anyone who receives a quote, reservation request, or payment instruction from an unfamiliar address should contact the hotel directly before sending money. Customers should also avoid transfers to personal or unverified accounts and confirm reservations through the hotels’ official phone numbers or websites.
For those with regular room reservations, there is no public indication from the reports reviewed that hotel operations have been suspended or that guests are being asked to cancel stays.
The alert, as reported, is focused on fraudulent event bookings and unauthorized payment requests. Still, visitors with questions about an upcoming stay or event reservation should contact the property directly through official Hilton or hotel channels before arrival.
