Lots of people enjoy traveling from their far-flung American hometowns here, to the "Big Apple," the "City That Never Sleeps," a place "Where Stars Are Born," and "You Will Probably Get Robbed." Please, gentle tourists, heed this Public Service Announcement: Do not let anyone "borrow" your credit card, here in "Gotham."

In poker, they say that if you can't spot the sucker at the table, it's you. This is also true in the lobby of the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. From the NY Post:

Silver-haired Olivier Rey, 48, of Switzerland, approached his victims in the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers and appeared frantic, telling them that he'd just lost his credit card in a taxi and needed help for his family to check in, sources told The Post.

"He just seemed to be desperate," recalled Gary Koelling, 43, of St. Michael, Minn., who wound up handing over his credit card to Rey.

Koelling said Rey told him, "I just left my wallet in the cab. I don't know how I'm going to get it back. My family is here. I have a reservation, and I just need to check in. Can you help me?"

So nice Mr. Koelling let this fella use his credit card to check in, just until tomorrow, when he was getting his replacement credit card, and of course he wouldn't charge anything at all. Except for his six-week stay at that hotel, to the tune of $41,000.

Tourists, just follow this simple rule that locals use: never talk to anyone at all, anywhere. Instead, just glare.

"But... but this was a white guy!"

No, not even him.

[NYP. Photo of typical savvy locals: Ed Yourdon/ Flickr]