Originally Posted by
Often1
Absolutely. As anybody will tell you in the travel business, if you don't make a few examples out of the fraudsters, you get run over hard. People who will do this to you will do all kinds of other stuff. Best get rid of the bad apples.
Since this case, it's a family member and it doesn't happen often, there is normally a wink wink and also Your Miles May Vary.
In all fairness, if you check in with your dad, and you decided to go somewhere else (non-starwood) and no sleep there, that's fine. But if you're staying in the same area in a different starwood, you're account will likely get caught for checking in at two hotels in the same area.
What is always not cool is someone checks in, stays there, and checks out while you want to take their stay credit.