[CaptainK]

Waiters and waitress have been know to pass along a credit card number to a friend for illegal purchases.

[cgbg]

Waiters and waitress have been know to pass along a credit card number to a friend for illegal purchases.

Exactly--they are mostly younger people who are paid terrible wages and are dependent on tips.

It is just too easy for them to do this and get a kickback on the proceeds.

I _never_ use a credit card in a restaurant (when you are handing the card to a waiter/waitress) for this reason. I have been in groups where everyone pays by credit card at a restaurant except for me.

Oh, well, I am just a paranoid old man. :-)