ATM fraud in Playa

Ollie · 04-24-2004

Recently returned from our third wonderful trip to beautiful Playa. Unfortunately someone had gotten our Debit card info and PIN # in Playa and withdrew almost $3000 from our account. I had unsuccessfully tried to withdraw $ from the Banamex ATM on 5th. Avenue (somewhere between Calle 4 and Calle 8 on the right hand side of the street as you walk north) and that's where the information was stolen. I know this kind of thing happens all over but I want to warn people not to use that ATM. And, as my bank suggested, check your account activity online weekly because this kind of fraud is very common and the criminals are coming up with more sophisticated ways of stealing every day.

Sedonico · 04-24-2004

Is there a way to tell by looking at an ATM that it has been tampered with? I've been hearing stories about people having their information stolen like this (not just in PDC, but everywhere) and I was wondering if there was a way to prevent that.

-Sara

**james** · 04-24-2004

there's a Banamex ATM there?

JAH · 04-24-2004

Not that I know of.

MikeW · 04-25-2004

There a few ways to steal ATM card info.
1 - Steal the card from the customer, probably after using the ATM
2 - Put a card reading device on the ATM, recording the information on the ATM card, so the thief can make a new card. This device may also have a camera that watches you type in the PIN. Typically the ATM will not work with this on it.
3 - The thief puts a clear plastic sleeve in the ATM card slot, the ATM never releases the card. The thief pulls the card out of the ATM, there is usually a tab sticking out of the card slot the thief uses to pull the card out.
4 - A variation of #2, a fake ATM machine that records the magnetic strip and PIN. I wonder if that really was an ATM machine that took your information or was it someones sophisticated ATM card and PIN copier machine. Put it on a street corner for one day, steal a lot of information, pick it up that night and leave the city, go to the next city the next day. The machine itself wouldn't be that hard to build, making it look like an ATM machine would be hard for me, but not others.

The conspiracy theorist in me likes #4, it seems the most sophisticated and also the most unlikely.

Unless the thief has the PIN, they can't do anything with it. Protect your PIN. Use your spare hand to cover the PIN while you type it, even a camera can't read this. Never give your PIN to anyone including the bank, the phone number on the ATM may not be a bank but part of the whole ATM fraud scam (if you are reporting a problem with an ATM, they don't need to know your PIN).

**tommy** · 04-25-2004

Mike is your real name Mel Gibson?????

MikeW · 04-25-2004

Sorry, I don't get it. I don't go to the movies much. Last time I went to the movies I saw Lilo and Stich with my wife. If you are referring to Mel Gibson's latest movie (forgot the name), my wife, teenage daughter and I had some socio-political-religious discussions about it, from a biased point of view since we never saw it.

Clue me in on this one.

**james** · 04-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeW

Clue me in on this one.

conspiracy theory

**sctx** · 04-25-2004

Aren't there withdrawal limits on your card??? It would take me more than 2 weeks to withdraw that much from an ATM in my home town at a $200 max per day, this is a pain in the butt sometimes... like the morning we leave for Mexico and I remember that I forgot to withdraw travelin cash, but it does give some peace of mind. We always contact our bank/credit card companies and inform them of where we are going and the travel dates... and we call them when we get back with a transaction list... any charges/withdrawals beyond that are automatically flagged for approval/protest. We still rely mainly on travelers checks for security and use the ATM's in rare cases (like late nite booze money).

MikeW · 04-25-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by james

conspiracy theory

Got it. Thankx for the clue.

Ollie · 04-25-2004

The plot thickens! If there is no Banamex ATM in that location, then someone did an excellent job setting up a fake one, and the people using it before and after me are in the same predicament. It will be some time before my bank will complete the investigation, but but the person at the bank I spoke with told me it appears that a duplicate card was made and used successfully 8 different times, and apparently unsuccessfully a number of times as well, beginning during the time I was still in Mexico. So by the time I realized something was wrong they'd managed to take thousands of dollars. Luckily I will not be liable as the fraud is obvious. I just learned a lesson the hard way.

SandyDee · 04-25-2004

Are there ATMs inside of any banks in PDC? If so, where are these banks?

Tx

baylainphilly · 04-25-2004

I usually use an ATM on 5th Avenue between calle 6 & 8, but don't know the name of it. It's actually enclosed in glass and air conditioned. It's almost directly across the street from the Hertz Rental Agency just a little further north. I've never had any problems.

CalifGuy · 04-25-2004

Many banks now issue combination ATM/Debit cards and when used as a debit card there is no limit, other than the total amount in your bank account, as to how much can be withdrawn. After hearing stories of ATM ripoffs from friends visiting Cabo I went to my bank to request an ATM only card with a $300 limit. I cancelled the debit card as I see no practical use for it, I can't drink more than $300 in one night although I've tried.

**james** · 04-25-2004

All the banks have ATMs inside. They are across from the bus station, on Juarez, on 12th at 10th Ave., in Plaza Pelicano.... plus many more. I'm kinda clueless how you could mistakenly put your card into a non-authentic machine.

04-24-2004	#1 (permalink)
Ollie sandflea Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5	ATM fraud in Playa Recently returned from our third wonderful trip to beautiful Playa. Unfortunately someone had gotten our Debit card info and PIN # in Playa and withdrew almost $3000 from our account. I had unsuccessfully tried to withdraw $ from the Banamex ATM on 5th. Avenue (somewhere between Calle 4 and Calle 8 on the right hand side of the street as you walk north) and that's where the information was stolen. I know this kind of thing happens all over but I want to warn people not to use that ATM. And, as my bank suggested, check your account activity online weekly because this kind of fraud is very common and the criminals are coming up with more sophisticated ways of stealing every day.

04-24-2004	#3 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,596	there's a Banamex ATM there? __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image! Thanks for taking the time to read the announcement!

04-25-2004	#12 (permalink)
SandyDee ruined Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sterling, VA Posts: 83	ATMs in Banks? Are there ATMs inside of any banks in PDC? If so, where are these banks? Tx

04-25-2004	#15 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,596	All the banks have ATMs inside. They are across from the bus station, on Juarez, on 12th at 10th Ave., in Plaza Pelicano.... plus many more. I'm kinda clueless how you could mistakenly put your card into a non-authentic machine. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image! Thanks for taking the time to read the announcement!

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04-24-2004	#2 (permalink)
Sedonico lost on fifth Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 13	Is there a way to tell by looking at an ATM that it has been tampered with? I've been hearing stories about people having their information stolen like this (not just in PDC, but everywhere) and I was wondering if there was a way to prevent that. -Sara

04-24-2004	#4 (permalink)
JAH reposado Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,309	Not that I know of.

04-25-2004	#5 (permalink)
MikeW añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 9,019	There a few ways to steal ATM card info. 1 - Steal the card from the customer, probably after using the ATM 2 - Put a card reading device on the ATM, recording the information on the ATM card, so the thief can make a new card. This device may also have a camera that watches you type in the PIN. Typically the ATM will not work with this on it. 3 - The thief puts a clear plastic sleeve in the ATM card slot, the ATM never releases the card. The thief pulls the card out of the ATM, there is usually a tab sticking out of the card slot the thief uses to pull the card out. 4 - A variation of #2, a fake ATM machine that records the magnetic strip and PIN. I wonder if that really was an ATM machine that took your information or was it someones sophisticated ATM card and PIN copier machine. Put it on a street corner for one day, steal a lot of information, pick it up that night and leave the city, go to the next city the next day. The machine itself wouldn't be that hard to build, making it look like an ATM machine would be hard for me, but not others. The conspiracy theorist in me likes #4, it seems the most sophisticated and also the most unlikely. Unless the thief has the PIN, they can't do anything with it. Protect your PIN. Use your spare hand to cover the PIN while you type it, even a camera can't read this. Never give your PIN to anyone including the bank, the phone number on the ATM may not be a bank but part of the whole ATM fraud scam (if you are reporting a problem with an ATM, they don't need to know your PIN).

04-25-2004	#6 (permalink)
tommy Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin Tx Posts: 12,131	Mike is your real name Mel Gibson?????

04-25-2004	#7 (permalink)
MikeW añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 9,019	Sorry, I don't get it. I don't go to the movies much. Last time I went to the movies I saw Lilo and Stich with my wife. If you are referring to Mel Gibson's latest movie (forgot the name), my wife, teenage daughter and I had some socio-political-religious discussions about it, from a biased point of view since we never saw it. Clue me in on this one.

04-25-2004	#9 (permalink)
sctx Moniker Morpher Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Body in San Marcos Tx....Tankah in my mind Posts: 26,931	Aren't there withdrawal limits on your card??? It would take me more than 2 weeks to withdraw that much from an ATM in my home town at a $200 max per day, this is a pain in the butt sometimes... like the morning we leave for Mexico and I remember that I forgot to withdraw travelin cash, but it does give some peace of mind. We always contact our bank/credit card companies and inform them of where we are going and the travel dates... and we call them when we get back with a transaction list... any charges/withdrawals beyond that are automatically flagged for approval/protest. We still rely mainly on travelers checks for security and use the ATM's in rare cases (like late nite booze money).

04-25-2004	#11 (permalink)
Ollie sandflea Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5	The plot thickens! If there is no Banamex ATM in that location, then someone did an excellent job setting up a fake one, and the people using it before and after me are in the same predicament. It will be some time before my bank will complete the investigation, but but the person at the bank I spoke with told me it appears that a duplicate card was made and used successfully 8 different times, and apparently unsuccessfully a number of times as well, beginning during the time I was still in Mexico. So by the time I realized something was wrong they'd managed to take thousands of dollars. Luckily I will not be liable as the fraud is obvious. I just learned a lesson the hard way.

04-25-2004	#13 (permalink)
baylainphilly beachaholic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 263	I usually use an ATM on 5th Avenue between calle 6 & 8, but don't know the name of it. It's actually enclosed in glass and air conditioned. It's almost directly across the street from the Hertz Rental Agency just a little further north. I've never had any problems.

04-25-2004	#14 (permalink)
CalifGuy beachaholic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 268	Many banks now issue combination ATM/Debit cards and when used as a debit card there is no limit, other than the total amount in your bank account, as to how much can be withdrawn. After hearing stories of ATM ripoffs from friends visiting Cabo I went to my bank to request an ATM only card with a $300 limit. I cancelled the debit card as I see no practical use for it, I can't drink more than $300 in one night although I've tried.

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