I had a shock 3 weeks ago when my bank in the Channels Islands (off the UK) called me as that they suspected my Visa Debit card was being used without my knowledge.
I quickly checked my records and found almost B60,000 had been debited from my account from an ATM machine in Hua Hin, over 3 days. The same ATM had been used each time, and is located outside the 7/11 at the crossroads at the top of the night market, a machine I have never used.
When the monies had been taken out each time between 12:30 am and 13:30 AM, the debit card was with me.
As no one else knew my pin, my only conclusion is that the card has been read and a copy made.
I rarely use the card normally, but I was taking cash off it in August and
I used it once in a restaurant (which I won't name as I can't prove it) which is the only time my visa card was out of my sight. The fraud started 4 days later.
Or could it have been read and copied from an ATM - I don't know?
My bank in Guernsey have re-credited the money while they make a fraud investigation.
The aim of the post is to warn people to be careful using cards around town. I'm using cash only at the moment.
Credit Card Fraud in Hua Hin
I havn’t heard of this happening much in Hua Hin, but its rife in some parts of Asia. It is wise to be wary of using credit cards in any small business where it is very easy for the proprietor to abuse them, either by ringing through extra payments, copying the card, or even using it elsewhere.
A colleague of mine had the experience of using a credit card to pay a hotel bill in Jakarta, and in the couple of minutes while the card was out of his sight, two mobile phones were purchased in the same street on his card.
Also internal fraud in the banks is a big problem.
A colleague of mine had the experience of using a credit card to pay a hotel bill in Jakarta, and in the couple of minutes while the card was out of his sight, two mobile phones were purchased in the same street on his card.
Also internal fraud in the banks is a big problem.
The advice of PJG is the best in my eyes!
I also use my Credit Card to get cash before I go out or start a shopping-tour, although it's a little bit more expensive in view of the fees.
If I have bigger bills i.e. from a tailor, I never would pay directly with my credit card.
I'm just giving a small deposit and pay the rest in cash on the delivery date.
Not sure if you can trust stuffs of bigger, or well-known hotels?
In this case I use my credit card during the check-in procedure instead of any cash-deposit, and for the payment later, too.
Of course, in guesthouses or small "no name" hotels I avoid using my credit card.
Better to be careful always, even is it not so comfortable.
I also use my Credit Card to get cash before I go out or start a shopping-tour, although it's a little bit more expensive in view of the fees.
If I have bigger bills i.e. from a tailor, I never would pay directly with my credit card.
I'm just giving a small deposit and pay the rest in cash on the delivery date.
Not sure if you can trust stuffs of bigger, or well-known hotels?
In this case I use my credit card during the check-in procedure instead of any cash-deposit, and for the payment later, too.
Of course, in guesthouses or small "no name" hotels I avoid using my credit card.
Better to be careful always, even is it not so comfortable.
-
migrant
- Addict
- Posts: 6041
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:15 am
- Location: California is now in the past hello Thailand!!
I keep a credit card with a small limit that I use internationally, when I do not have the cash with me.
I also check on-line frequently to ensure the charges are mine.
Numerous scams out there. Here in the US a common one nowadays is the bad guys using a cell phone camera to record your entries.
Carefull all!
I also check on-line frequently to ensure the charges are mine.
Numerous scams out there. Here in the US a common one nowadays is the bad guys using a cell phone camera to record your entries.
Carefull all!
-
Guess
- Deceased
- Posts: 3470
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:01 pm
- Location: BangSaphan. Laurasia. Sub thumb
To Roberto
All good advice but except for the one by migrant do not relate to this crime.
When you paid in the restaurant you should not have had your to have given your PIN. However it would have been very easy for them to have made a copy of your card on white plastic but not our PIN. To get cash from an ATM you must supply a PIN which is encoded sent to your bank decoded and then authorised. The only way they could do that is to have seen you enter your pin at some point. Did you use and ATM after you used the restaurant? Has anybody ever had access to your PIN and is it secure. I.e not a component of your birthdate you wedding annniversary or your familes similar details.?
I that answer to any of these questions is yes then it means that you have inadvertently allowed the thief access to your PIN. Banks will not usually refund on PIN transactions. Their official position is that the PIN is you responsibilty to take care of. You must not use a number that allows it to be guessed like your year of birth, You must use more than two different digits and not more than two in sequence etc.etc.etc.
There is no way on earth that the PIN can be derived from any information either embossed on your card or on the tracks or the chip in the card if you have one.
The restaurant seems the most likely source of the fraud as they had your card and could have made a copy and they also know what vyou look like so could have photographed you using your PIN or just plain looked over you shoulder. I often have people standing far to close to me when I withdrwa cash so I always use ATMs where there will be no queue. If there is anybody near you even nif they are two yards behind you cover the key pad with one hand while using the othe hand to enter the PIN. Enter the PIN as quickly as tou can. It is possible that you had given away tour PIN before you used the restaurant and it just happened that the restaurant wer the first that were able to copy your card.
Of course I am assuming that banks in Jersey conform to internationally agreed protocols used by Wetern Banks.
I have worked in that industry and have myself been stung for 2000 UK pounds with thieves using a high powered camera from a building across the street and they did not need a copy of my card. all the necessary information is embossed on the front of the card. The bank still did not give me a refund and advised I sued the criminals when they were caught which they were. Of course they went to prison so no cahs to sue for. already laundered longtime ago.
My advice as always is do not use credit cards at all. If you have to nhave an ATN|M card because you can not go to the bank during opening hours then take all the precautions that I have mentioned and don't forget cameras are getting more and moe powerfull allthe time so this sort of crime will increase until they introduce cameras in ATMs, optical scanners and fingerprint readers. Problem then is they will chop off you fingers and gouge your eyes out first.
All good advice but except for the one by migrant do not relate to this crime.
When you paid in the restaurant you should not have had your to have given your PIN. However it would have been very easy for them to have made a copy of your card on white plastic but not our PIN. To get cash from an ATM you must supply a PIN which is encoded sent to your bank decoded and then authorised. The only way they could do that is to have seen you enter your pin at some point. Did you use and ATM after you used the restaurant? Has anybody ever had access to your PIN and is it secure. I.e not a component of your birthdate you wedding annniversary or your familes similar details.?
I that answer to any of these questions is yes then it means that you have inadvertently allowed the thief access to your PIN. Banks will not usually refund on PIN transactions. Their official position is that the PIN is you responsibilty to take care of. You must not use a number that allows it to be guessed like your year of birth, You must use more than two different digits and not more than two in sequence etc.etc.etc.
There is no way on earth that the PIN can be derived from any information either embossed on your card or on the tracks or the chip in the card if you have one.
The restaurant seems the most likely source of the fraud as they had your card and could have made a copy and they also know what vyou look like so could have photographed you using your PIN or just plain looked over you shoulder. I often have people standing far to close to me when I withdrwa cash so I always use ATMs where there will be no queue. If there is anybody near you even nif they are two yards behind you cover the key pad with one hand while using the othe hand to enter the PIN. Enter the PIN as quickly as tou can. It is possible that you had given away tour PIN before you used the restaurant and it just happened that the restaurant wer the first that were able to copy your card.
Of course I am assuming that banks in Jersey conform to internationally agreed protocols used by Wetern Banks.
I have worked in that industry and have myself been stung for 2000 UK pounds with thieves using a high powered camera from a building across the street and they did not need a copy of my card. all the necessary information is embossed on the front of the card. The bank still did not give me a refund and advised I sued the criminals when they were caught which they were. Of course they went to prison so no cahs to sue for. already laundered longtime ago.
My advice as always is do not use credit cards at all. If you have to nhave an ATN|M card because you can not go to the bank during opening hours then take all the precautions that I have mentioned and don't forget cameras are getting more and moe powerfull allthe time so this sort of crime will increase until they introduce cameras in ATMs, optical scanners and fingerprint readers. Problem then is they will chop off you fingers and gouge your eyes out first.
[color=blue][size=134]Care in the community success story.[/size][/color]