Bangla ATM card scanners

[LivinLOS]

From the PHUKET GAZETTE:


PATONG: Police are warning credit card and bank card holders to exercise caution when using ATMs and other “swipe” machines in Patong after an ATM on Soi Bangla was found fitted with devices capable of recording card data and pin numbers.

Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark told the Gazette that Patong police received a call from an English tourist about 11 pm Friday after he had problems using his credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM on Soi Bangla.

Col Grissak said that after the tourist removed his cash from the machine, he found it difficult to remove his card because it was stuck in the insert hole.

“He then tried to force his card out and he was surprised when a fitting glued over the insert hole came loose,” Col Grissak said.

He explained that the ATM had two devices fitted to it. Glued over the insert hole was a scanning device to extract card data as the card was inserted into the ATM, and an extra keypad was fitted over the ATM’s original keypad so that PIN numbers could be recorded as they were entered by unsuspecting users.

“Both devices look like the real ones and they record information from cards used at those ATM machines,” Col Grissak explained.

Since the discovery that the Krung Sri Bank (Bank of Ayudhya) ATM had been tampered with, Kathu police officers have been ordered to check on every ATM in Patong, Col Grissak said, as he expects that the Soi Bangla ATM was not the only one in Patong fitted with a scanning device.

“We found another machine not far from the first one that also had scanning devices fitted to it,” he said.

“The information recorded is transferred to a computer and then used to make fake credit cards, which are used in many ways, such as buying things over the Internet,” Col Grissak said, adding that major banks have been alerted to the discovery.

Police have received only one complaint about dodgy ATMs, Col Grissak said. “If the information from their credit cards is copied, it can cause them a lot of harm, but so far we have yet to receive complaints from any other tourists about it,” he said.

Col Grissak, a former high-ranking Tourist Police officer in Bangkok, said, “In my experience, gangs try to steal credit card information in tourism areas, such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Samui, but this is the first time we have found this in Phuket.”

Although police in Phuket have yet to catch the culprits responsible for refitting the Patong ATMs, Col Grissak said that a credit card gang was arrested yesterday morning in Bangkok.

“We also caught a gang from Sri Lanka at the beginning of this year. They used fake credit cards to buy things. The same gang operated in Phuket, too,” he said.

[MassMoose]

That's Scary.

Thanks for the "heads up".

[fun2have]

yes thanks for that, looks difficult to pick if one has been placed.

[midnightsun1]

why not wait for the numb nuts to show up and collect the data... seem easy enough to catch them that way.

[aussie dollar]

Had it happen to my citibank card last week here in oz.
In a small country town
bloody pain in neck cancel card reissue takes 5 working days.

[Masterwoodsman]

Unfortunately the more technology advances the more this kind of thing is going to happen..... it will be back to the old days soon where people will go to the bank for cash with their pass book and ATM's will be less frequently used. Its the old story, however bullet proof they make these electrical devices these days there's always some smart ass who is one step ahead.....

Good post for warning BM's though

[Johnny69]

Originally Posted by aussie dollar

Had it happen to my citibank card last week here in oz.
In a small country town
bloody pain in neck cancel card reissue takes 5 working days.

Damn, using ATM's is handy when overseas, guess its back to travellers checks. Good post and warning.

J69

[sarsbuk]

Cheers for the heads up!

[Raw]

scary how good minds a waisted....
and how dangerous atm machines can be

[dizbuster]

I've said it many times in the past, always be rough with the ATM, if bits start coming off in your hands then it's a sign that something dodgy is happening as the ATMs are designed to be very robust.

Thanks for sharing the info

[K2]

Originally Posted by Raw

scary how good minds a waisted....
and how dangerous atm machines can be

Hummm new beuties downstairs as well as unpstairs - nice avo Raw!

LiL - very professional job with the colour matched 'add-on's to the machine - thats pretty scary shite.

[MajorTom]

It looks like my regular ATM just outside the Living room pool hall.. lucky i haven't used it for a while.

[Crustasian]

A few months ago an Aussie tourist got his card scammed on the ATM at top end of Soi Katsup and Ratutit.

He said his card was not returned and this French speaking Arab guy helped him get the card back.He didn't think any more about it until a few days later he found his Bank account in Aussie was down a heap of money.

Looking back on it is obvious.The gang were sitting in a cafe beside the ATM and monitoring it from there.The helpful Arab just happened to stand in line behing the target in case there was a problem.

Luckily for him his bank reimbursed him his funds as the transactions had taken place back in Europe and he was still in Patong.

[Tim26swe]

why doesnt the banks have personell checking up their machines?

think the cost for that would not be so big compared to what they have to pay up when must refund those whos card been scammed..

[Simbo]

Originally Posted by Tim26swe

why doesnt the banks have personell checking up their machines?

think the cost for that would not be so big compared to what they have to pay up when must refund those whos card been scammed..

The main branches which have exchanges as well as ATMs tend to get the exchange guys to check the machines at irregular intervals. As Crusty said the French Algerians were lurking with intent near what was a standalone ATM. There are that many ATMs in town it would be like painting the Forth Bridge trying to check them all. The best thing is to use an ATM at a main branch or manned exchange, chances are there is some form of CCTV as well as good lighting which should act as a deterrent to scammers.

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Tim26swe;

why doesnt the banks have personell checking up their machines?

think the cost for that would not be so big compared to what they have to pay up when must refund those whos card been scammed..

That's the obvious answer. A person who is familiar with what the machine is supposed to look like could spot tampering like this with just a glance at it. You would think that the person who comes and fills the machine with the cash could do this. They must fill that sucker up with dosh at least once a day, if not more often, what with tourists pulling money out all day long, and at night, as well.

[Crunch]

I normally just use the machines inside that bank place next to taipan to get cash, is that still considered fairly safe?

[Crustasian]

Originally Posted by Crunch

I normally just use the machines inside that bank place next to taipan to get cash, is that still considered fairly safe?

That is the same one I use - it the closest to the bar.They check their machine every day and there is also a security guard close by.

[jimholio]

From now on i would use the ATM's inside Jungceylon or inside the bank.

[Crunch]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

That is the same one I use - it the closest to the bar.They check their machine every day and there is also a security guard close by.

Jubbly, i'll keep using that bugger then.

[edje123]

Tnx for the heads up.
Scary how well made these things are. I work in a bank and we get sometimes memo's with pictures of scams like this. Never saw any that were as good as this.

And for "helpfull" people showing up all at once when your pin code was not accepted, or when your card is swallowed : 9 times out of 10 you are being had!!

Another trick they use : "code not accepted?", "try again sir, maybe it'll work now?" - You enter your code again, but in the meantime the "friendly guy" looks over your shoulder to see you enter your code. Your card seems to be swallowed by the machine, and you go away. The scammer waits, and detaches the device that kept your card in the machine. He has your card and pin number, and within seconds he can start plundering your account.

[Nicke]

The good thing with an article like above is that you get more careful and pays more attention to the ATM in question.

By seeing the pics above you get an idea how a tampered machine would/may look like. If you have this knowledge, I am sure you can see and determine for yourself if an ATM is genuine or not. The keyboard should be flat and not raised by a level etc.

[zipolite]

Thanks for the heads up..

When I was there in June, an ATM on Rat U Thit (across the road from C&N Hotel heading towards Soi Bangla) dispensed money to me after I entered the wrong PIN! Checked my statement and no problem...will be careful when I go back next month..

PS: Would be handy to fit those bits to my body to stop the BGs from withdrawing all my money!

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Crustasian

A few months ago an Aussie tourist got his card scammed on the ATM at top end of Soi Katsup and Ratutit.

He said his card was not returned and this French speaking Arab guy helped him get the card back.He didn't think any more about it until a few days later he found his Bank account in Aussie was down a heap of money.

Looking back on it is obvious.The gang were sitting in a cafe beside the ATM and monitoring it from there.The helpful Arab just happened to stand in line behing the target in case there was a problem.

Luckily for him his bank reimbursed him his funds as the transactions had taken place back in Europe and he was still in Patong.

This is a carbon copy of a thread l seen on another Forum about a similiar scam in Pattaya......remeber reading it about 3/4 months ago......French Algerians IIRC were the suspects in Patts as well....the guys in Patts were actually arrested.........seems like they are back in operation.