Phuket

richo · #1 26-07-2007, 19:29

traveled to los back in early june and also had a few friends travel there too a couple months back.since coming home 3 of our friends have found that they had thier visa card skimmed to tune large sums of dollars.still waiting for my statment.fingers crossed.has anybody else had this problem.

MrDK · #2 26-07-2007, 19:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by richo

traveled to los back in early june and also had a few friends travel there too a couple months back.since coming home 3 of our friends have found that they had thier visa card skimmed to tune large sums of dollars.still waiting for my statment.fingers crossed.has anybody else had this problem.

Never have, but that is why I would never use my debit card outside of an ATM from a major bank or reputable hotel. I use my American Express all over the place in Thailand and never had any problems.

If there is any fraud, American express takes care of all losses. I believe there is a credit card law here in the US that the maximum loss to to the card holder can not exceed $50. I do not think this law applies to debit cards.

Captain · #3 26-07-2007, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by richo

traveled to los back in early june and also had a few friends travel there too a couple months back.since coming home 3 of our friends have found that they had thier visa card skimmed to tune large sums of dollars.still waiting for my statment.fingers crossed.has anybody else had this problem.

3 times in a year. Now just use my Visa card in ATM and at end of Long Time say in hotel.

dawsey · #4 27-07-2007, 03:06

It's an old thread, but its happened before. Don't let that card out of your sight if you have to use it.

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ne...+Card+skimming

Captain · #5 27-07-2007, 03:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsey

It's an old thread, but its happened before. Don't let that card out of your sight if you have to use it.

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ne...+Card+skimming

No use, I didn't let it out of my sight. Think their connections between the card reader and the credit card server are rigged. I followed my card to the counter in restaurants and Ocean.

dawsey · #6 27-07-2007, 03:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain

No use, I didn't let it out of my sight. Think their connections between the card reader and the credit card server are rigged. I followed my card to the counter in restaurants and Ocean.

Hmmm they are getting more and more clever. I won't use my credit card unless absolutely necessary in LOS. Cash all the way, even prefer to use the ATM and make sure of enough cash for the higher price items.
The hotel bill is a different matter though.

There was also a thread about one of the hotels cloning a card IIRC

MrDK · #7 27-07-2007, 03:32

Before you get all up in arms, check with your credit card company to see what they do or do not cover.
If you are covered, use the card when convenient.

I have never been scammed in LOS (even use my card in clubs and pay for girls/massages). I have been scammed elsewhere and a five minute call to the card company cleared that up - no forms, no paper and no followup (on my part).

viper · #8 27-07-2007, 04:37

Agree with MrDK here - a quick call to the issuer and issue resolved.

That said I only pay for air tickets and at a push hotels with my card now. If I can get away with getting to an ATM before I check out - I do, and pay cash.

Also try not to log onto any of my accounts on-line when in the internet cafe's as rumour has it most are now rigged or at the least they have key stroke software installed.

Don't know how true that is (as have only heard it second hand) but wouldn't like to risk it.

Imagine if they got hold of my ma's e-mail address.....

andmel · #9 27-07-2007, 05:51

In 1 year me, my mother and my mother's boyfriend cards has been copied, my card was used in Australia my mothers in France and the last in Hongkong.

My card was only used in ATM an I also checked if the ATM's had skimming equipment! The two other cards was olso used at hotels and restaurants.

All the money taken from the cards have we got back from Visa :-)

My mothers card was the first to be copied and missused, when this happen I said to her that only stupid people got their card copied, a half year later my card also missused :-(

richo · #10 27-07-2007, 07:46

looks likes this is quite common.I know one of our friends only used their card at motel,tailor,and optomtrist.Did buy some more coths from same tailor for our friend on anther of thier cards.Still waiting to see if this one as been skimmed.

dizbuster · #11 27-07-2007, 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by viper

...Also try not to log onto any of my accounts on-line when in the internet cafe's as rumour has it most are now rigged or at the least they have key stroke software installed...

It is advisable not to do do it, but key stroke software is no good if your bank uses random characters from your password.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andmel

...My card was only used in ATM an I also checked if the ATM's had skimming equipment!

There are devices that can be placed over the card entry slot which record your card details. Always check the ATM card slot and if anything looks suspicious, either do not use it or else check it by seeing if you can pull anything off the machine. These devices sit on top of the slot and therefore can be pulled off quite easily.

There is also another device which allows your card to be entered, but then stops your card from being returned. This scam is aimed mainly at trying to get your card and your PIN, so if someone is "lurking" and this happens, the chances are high that it will be the culprit !!

Lots of info here Latest Email Hoaxes - Current Internet Scams - Hoax-Slayer

crazy_gman · #12 27-07-2007, 09:03

There are so many ways to skim a card, they have devices that they can put inside a machine that will store the card number and pin, then bluetooth it out to someone 100ft away or keep it in memory for later. They can put a skimmer over top an atm, they can put a skimmer right in the pinpad cord. Until Thailand gets chip enable devices it will be a place of target, just like Canada and the US is being hit hard right now.
I never even think about it anymore, and I am in the card industry, I know that Visa and MasterCard take 100% liabilty and will cover all loses.

Gman

Captain · #13 27-07-2007, 15:30

Visa covered. They were also the first to find out. Got a call asking if I had been in China on 28 December. Few months later a call asking if I had been in the US in April, and then again a few months later a call that somebody tried to use my card in Australia. Every time I had to destroy my card, get a new one, go to the bank to start new one... I was fed up and stopped using it.

HEADING2LOS · #14 27-07-2007, 22:44

Thats one thing which scares me of cards. Well i was looking at the Bank's site and they have a Visa travel card in which you load a desired amount and its ready to use. You can use it to withdraw cash from ATM's and pay for shopping and all. What else its usually valid for a month or so, means once you are back you get your remaining balance back and the card is finished. On thomas cook is also providing this type of card and they have the option of 2 additional card with same account but different PIN. So in case you loose one card you can get that blocked and use second one. Have anyone has use them, if yes, then hows the experience.

viper · #15 28-07-2007, 03:38

Although am aware of the potential for copying, skimming etc, and have already mentioned, I try not to use one apart for withdrawing cash.

The only problem I have experienced so far, is the card being declined by the ATM - even after advising the bank/credit company of the trip. Not a real problem, as a quick call and all is well again - However each time the card has been blocked or the ATM wouldn't dish the cash - the transaction had gone through.

The c/card company asks if I received the cash - which is a bit dumb, or I wouldn't be calling them to un-lock the card!! but as soon as I say no, they re-credit my account.

Fair play to them for that - but is also a bit of a scary thought to think anyone could simply call them two minutes after drawing out some cash and say they didn't receive it. Have their account re-credited and say thank you very much!!!

I know there are checks they can make via the bank or ATM operator to track such things but I have always wondered how the ATM can refuse to dish the cash yet still process the transaction - something dodgy going on somewhere.....