atm fraud at banamex

If your planning on changing money at the bank make sure you have your passport with you.

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by tonydead

what info do you about ATMs at the airport???

This thread has some info:
CLICK HERE

[jeevers]

karen i thought it was a 500.00 per day limit as well
but it turns out its a 500.00 per transaction with a maximum of 5000.00 per day
at one bank they did 26 transactions and wiped out her account and sent her into overdraft protection so now until we get back to the states and straighten this out she not only lost all her $ but now owes the bank we talked to the bank and explained...
they kept asking where we lost our card
we said we didnt lose it we have it but didnt make the last 26 transactions
we have to dispute within 10 days so they faxed us the appropriate paperwork and supposedly they will issue a temporary credit to the account within 10 days while investigating
fdic insures your $ if the bank screws up im not sure how they will look at this
this was quite a sophisticated operation and i cant imagine how much $ was stolen over the easter weekend when people a vacationing and not keeping an eye on work or $
the only reason we discovered it was my girlfiend "had a feeling" and called her bank to check on things only to discover all her $ was gone
i immediatly went online to check my account on 4/1 and while sitting at home in my underwear saw that i had already been to the bank 3 times so far today so i called and cancelled the card and explained we had both been cloned
they are fed-xing us new cards but i doubt well get them
a friend of mine who lost his credit card waited a month and it never arrived
NEVER USE A SWIPE

[charlieiguana]

Checked with my bank, ATM fraud is common and growing. If your card is VISA protected your covered. The hassle is the problem.

James seems to be in denial that there is a problem. THERE IS!

Charlie

[FrankT]

Here is an example of how good the bad guys are at this. www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/atmcamera.asp

Frank

Good find Frank, we aren't getting much help here. I think I'll wing it with traveler's checks and a bunch of US$. Too scary to get pesos I guess.

[FrankT]

TonyD

I would not let this keep me from using ATM's in Playa. For me it is the best and most convenient way to access money when there. I posted the above link to let people know what to watch for, not to scare them from using ATM's. I do tend to only use ATM's that are located in the bank, and then mostly during daytime hours.

It is just good policy to look around and be aware of what to look for (maybe give a tug on the reader if it doesn't look or smell right).

I do also have a "reasonable" daily limit set on my card, and check my balance every time I use my card. I don't need to be able to buy a car with ATM withdrawls, just dinner and a couple of beers.

I did have a discussion with my bank after returning from Playa last month, as to my liability for fraudulent use on my card. There answer was "Nada" none, I tell them they were not my withdrawls, and they eat it. Part of the cost of doing business. "Your results may very". Best to ask and know in advance.

BTW I have also had two credit cards cloned in the last few years, one in MX and one in the States, so this can happen anywhere. Both times the card company caught it "QUICK" like 1 day into it and they ate the entire amounts. $5000 in the second case. The biggest PITA was changing over all my autopay bills to the new card. Only thing I do different now is not use the card I have my autopays on when I travel out of the country. I have a second card for travel use, and just keep my primary card for everday use when home and as a back-up when traveling.

For 99% of my spending in Playa I find the ATM is an easy, convient, and yes SAFE, source of $$$.

This is one area where a little bit of education and knowledge goes a long way toward not having a problem!

Frank

[Bumper]

We've never used any other ATM's except the Bank of Nova Scotia ones, and have had no problem. Not that we were afraid of the Banamex outlets, but I've always just been comfortable with the machines that are located in actual banks - and yes, I realize the ATM in question was in an actual bank - but the Nova Scotia was always relatively convenient for us. Even more so now that they have a second outlet in the new office building on Constitutyentes and 10th, which is in the North end of town where we stay. I made a point of calling my VISA and Mastercard suppliers to let them know I was going out of the country and they might see some charges from Mexico. They both indicated they appreciated the notification. I tried to do the same with my bank I would be taking all my ATM withdrawals from, but they were notably disinterested. That rather surprised me, but they said I wasn't responsible for fraudulent withdrawals, so the advise wasn't really required. Struck me as a pretty casual attitude towards what has the potential to be a significant issue, but banks seem to do pretty much what they damned well please anyway. I hate banks, but a coffee can full of Krugerands buried in the back yard doesn't seem to be a viable alternative. A mattress stuffed with dollar bills was okay years ago, but now that we've gone to the dollar being a coin in Canada, it makes the bed as uncomfortable as those notorious Mexican concrete slabs.

[vacationstar]

Originally Posted by Bumper

I tried to do the same with my bank I would be taking all my ATM withdrawals from, but they were notably disinterested. That rather surprised me, but they said I wasn't responsible for fraudulent withdrawals, so the advise wasn't really required.

I also notified my credit cards and my Bank. All were very happy that I let them know there would be foreign transactions. My ATM card is linked to a credit union so maybe that is why they took and interest? But then no 2 banks seem to operate the same.

I have soley used ATMs for cash when in Playa my last 5 trips. (bring credit cards for some items) Prior to that I used travelers checks. I switched because fewer places were accepting them and banks and some money exchanges required a passport to cash them. I don't like having to carry mine around all the time while on vacation. I prefer to leave it in the safe. And the banks always had such long lines. You just need to be aware of your surroundings and what could happen because it can happen anywhere. Not just Mexico.

[TnJ]

Last trip I insisted we only use that scotiabankinverlat atm near bus station, the one with the machinegunner nearby. never saw anything suspicious over that atm. also setup a max daily withdrawal and exact days the card can be used out of the country before leaving to give me some limitations if it did get cloned. Tj

[jeevers]

just got back from trying to get my bank atm fraud statement notarized as required by us banks when making a claim of atm fraud

mexican notaries will only notarrize documents in spanish and of course my forms were faxed to me in english
so now i have to pay to get them translated to spanish or wait and see if us banks can fax me the form in spanish and unlike the us where notaries cost 5 dollars here its 70

coincidently the notary also was ripped off at the same bank at the same time and is going thru all the same problems we are



THIS IS A BIG HASSLE

[james]

Originally Posted by charlieiguana

James seems to be in denial that there is a problem. THERE IS!

No, of course this sort of thing goes on. There was an incident where this DIDN'T happen, and some peeps were convinced it did.

I don't doubt Jeever's story. Still not sure how they got fooled, though.

[jeevers]

i dont know how we got fooled either

im telling you these guys were professionals not some country bumpkins

they manufactured an add on machine that somehow connects to the real machine and looks original only its a swipe vs stick the card in type

when we got ripped off there must have been 20 others waiting in line and im sure the same thing happened to them as evidenced by my notary who also got robbed
her office is across the st on 10th

looking back now i see what happened but at the time everything felt ok i jus tthought we didnt get any $ because the machine ran out due to the easter rush

i live in boston travel to new york city and am normally street saavy but this time they got me its a very disturbing feeling

im just scratching my head saying what the **** how did this happen?

I just verified a maiximum daily withdraw of $300 for the card I intend to use, so no worries, I'll just check by ballance each day.

[angelhouston819]

this is the bank i always use. i plan to use it when i am there at the end of next week. i am just going to look at anything suspicious and cover the pad when entering my pin and pray they won't get me.

A'ndrea