ATM uncertainties

[momotarosan]

I've just returned on July 7th to the States. On July 5th I was in downtown Tulum to get some medication for "la Turista" and withdrew money from the HSBC ATM. subsequently there has been 15 unauthorized ATM withdrawls from account

[Susie Q Roo]

For what it's worth, I just withdrew cash from there last Saturday (July 3rd). The withdrawal didn't show up on my account until Monday, and there have not been any subsequent withdrawals since. Was there anything strange about your transaction when you did it?

[james]

there is nothing wrong with this bank

[momotarosan]

Nothing unusual other than 3 people at the ATM machine next to mine, and they seemed to be taking their time...I used the ATM on the right, quickly removed my card from my wallet and inserted it into the ATM...entered my pin, made my selection on the ATM for withdrawl, and it gave me 1000 pesos that I requested. I removed the card quickly and placed it back into my wallet. the transaction was on July 5th (posted July 6th), and since then about 15 unauthorized transaction has popped up on my account. I doubt anyone looked directly over my shoulder, because my nephew was right behind me.

the only other transactions I made were at Banmex PDC on calle 12 a few days before. it's just too much coincidence for all the activities to popup after the tulum transaction. forcing me to close my accounts and open new ones.

[local8]

Originally Posted by Susie in Ohio

For what it's worth, I just withdrew cash from there last Saturday (July 3rd).

Hey Susie (or any other local) - is there an HSBC ATM in Playa - or is Tulum the closest?

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by local8

Hey Susie (or any other local) - is there an HSBC ATM in Playa - or is Tulum the closest?

Sorry, I have no idea. I never pay attention to what kind of machine I use, but I would think there would be one in Playa.

[LisaD]

I noticed an HSBC ATM machine on the northern end of La Quinta - it was on the eastern side and (I think) a block or so south of Constituentes. (FYI, I didn't use it, I just noticed it was there!)

Having read various reports on this and other sites of ATM problems, fraudulent machines etc., we ONLY used ATM's located at an actual bank (both in Isla Mujeres and in Playa). We've been home two weeks now and no sign of any unauthorized withdrawals.

[sportmodel]

Originally Posted by momotarosan

I've just returned on July 7th to the States. On July 5th I was in downtown Tulum to get some medication for "la Turista" and withdrew money from the HSBC ATM. subsequently there has been 15 unauthorized ATM withdrawls from account

I used the HSBC ATM twice last week....once on 6/26/04 and again on the 27th (and got a good exchange rate). So far, no unauthorized transactions have occurred to my account. That doesn't mean it COULDN'T happen, just relaying that our usage, so far, has not been problematic.

Were the other transactions for different amounts? Do you think there could have been processing errors between banks?

Hate that you have had problems...

[sportmodel]

I meant to add that we were at the same ATM, in Tulum.

[momotarosan]

here is my theory I how it happened;

there were people at a distance w/ high resolution digital camera or someone near the door, I had to insert the card into the slot near the door to open it. someone saw and memorized the number or took a picture from a distance as I removed the card from my wallet and inserted...the 3 people inside pretended to be tourists that didn't have a clue how to operate a mexican ATM that displayed only spanish...they took a long time because they pretended they were confused...so with a team of 3 or 4 being part of a ring, one memorized or took picture of the card outside, the ones inside pretended to be a foreign family and one member might innocently glance over when you are entering your pin number and memorizes the 4 digits...this is probably the work of a crime ring that travels from one location to another...and provide the info to their counterpart in another part of the world to make a card and access an ATM somewhere else.

be careful with your card when you insert it to open a door or atm...keep it covered as you insert it and remove it from a slot...unless the door entry device was a card-reader they implanted!

do any of you locals who have used that ATM remember if you had to insert your card by the door to open it?

[Susie Q Roo]

Originally Posted by momotarosan

be careful with your card when you insert it to open a door or atm...keep it covered as you insert it and remove it from a slot...unless the door entry device was a card-reader they implanted!

do any of you locals who have used that ATM remember if you had to insert your card by the door to open it?

Nope, I have never had to use my ATM card to open a door... that's probably where they got it, as the bank itself is entirely legitimate. So you tried just pulling the door open first, and it wouldn't open? That is SO weird, but I guess they'll do whatever it takes to get your money, won't they? I assume this was late at night?

[james]

Maybe you should edit the title of your post. This really has nothing to do with the bank in question. Proper security and procedure is necessary during any financial transaction anywhere, at any institution in any city in any country.

[jtm1631]

Between momotarosan's post here and in another thread, you seem to be quite the conspiracy theorist. Any comments on the JFK assassination?

JT

[momotarosan]

Originally Posted by jtm1631

Between momotarosan's post here and in another thread, you seem to be quite the conspiracy theorist. Any comments on the JFK assassination?

JT

hey, wise guy. it was an elaborate setup for them to capture my card info and pin at the same time. if it happened to you, you'd want to figure out what happened. all I know is there was a card slot in the doorway with a red and a green LED. when I stuck the card in the light turned from red to green...but Suzie from Ohio said she never used a card to get into the ATM room at HSBC Tulum, so how do you explained what happened?

I've read about the ATM fraud before the trip, but never thought it would happen to me if I was careful in selecting only Banemex and HSBC branches. the real con artists may use the same ploy that magicians utilize "what the eye sees the mind believes". if the contraptions look real, then they must be real.

[jtm1631]

First of all the fact that I'm from Chicago doesn't make me a wise guy although I have seen movies about Al Capone . Any way, I prefer the term smart a$$ to wise guy.

I was not commenting on how the information was obtained, it was the international crime ring that intrigued me. Didn't mean to offend you or belittle the severity of what happened.

JT