Definitely phone the hotel!
I had a guy the other day phone me (I am based in Reading)
claiming that he would be in Mayfair, (a 5* hotel, that he was surprised I had never heard of lol)
and that he would get a driver to pick me up from my location etc, and he wanted to book me for the whole day.
He barely gave me a chance to even state my checks, so I hung up and thought nothing of it. I just thought he was a TW.
Anyway about 45 minutes later, he phoned me again, asking for an address for me to be picked up.
So then I thought, well now is the time to check him out if he is interested!
I told him I would be phoning the hotel to confirm he had booked and paid etc, and that I would not be leaving home until I knew this.
He gave me the ref number etc, I phoned the hotel and guess what? he had booked the room, but left no credit card details, and had made no attempt to pay for the room. Unsuprisingly!
Needless to say, I text him stating him I wouldn't be meeting him due to these reasons.
He rang me back, the cheek of it, started trying to ask me for my stats, even my name!!! Like the previous conversations hadn't ever happened!!
I definitely wouldn't be slack with your procedures, as soon as you slack you will eventually regret it.
Happened to me a few times, back when I was new. It just isn't worth it!