ATM - safety and compatibility

[Mojo42]

I've read here and in the Phukette Gazette about ATM card scammers. From what I can see, the police have sorted this out - does anyone have any up to date news? I'm planning on using my ATM card rather than taking traveller's cheques and have opened a new account with no overdraft so that I can transfer what I need into it and avoid any risk of my main account being accessed; but have been put off a bit by this story.
As far as compatibility is concerned, I have a Bank of Scotland Visa debit card. I seem to remember in the past that debit cards used to be adorned with various signs like cirrus, maestro etc. This one simply has the Visa debit sign on it. Is that likely to work in a Thai ATM? (shows how long it's been since I've been outside Europe!!)
Have to say, this forum is fantastic - I've become an addict!!!

[LivinLOS]

Look at the machine closely.. And as Diz suggested dont be afraid to give it a knock about, they are built tough..

Look at the card slot and keypad..

[LivinLOS]

Ohh and VISA does work in all Thai ATMs I have tried.. Plus worst case you can go with VISA and a passport and get cash from a money change booth..

[dizbuster]

Another suggestion is to use only ATMs at banks during the saytime, so if you see anything that you are unsure about you can always alert bank staff.

Have a read of this site, you will find plenty of useful tips and hints on what to look out for etc www.hoax-slayer.com

Don't worry too much, I reckon there is far more ATM fraud going on in Scotland than there is in Thailand.

[greenwood]

Look I have Australian bank account that I can use at any Cirrus and Maestro linked atm's.

I always have had problems with only being able to use one certain bank (the one with the yellow/red signs), none of the others have I been able to use my card at.

I did manage to find out the problem last year before I went. Because my normal account is a cheque account in Australia, for some reason the Thai and most overseas banks ATM's were not able to process that sort of account via a normal debit card (not credit card)

Last year I asked at the bank before I went and was told that they would link the same account up on my Mastercard as a savings account and I would have no problem whatsoever.

If I could not access through my savings account, all I had to do was transfer it across to my credit card and am able to withdraw everywhere.
All worked OK, and hope that helps anyone who may come across the same problem.

I tend to try and draw around 30,000baht a time and so leave myself with a buffer incase I do have any problems.

[keith67]

I use debit cards all the time in ATMs in Phuket and have never had a problem although i never use the ATMs on Bangla or close to Bangla, as stated before stick to the ones outside Banks, the other thing check what your bank will charge you for withdrawing money from an ATM in Thailand, Thai banks don't charge but the first time i used a debit card my bank charged me £6 everytime i made a withdrawal, i changed accounts to a bank that doesn't charge and never had a problem since......

[LivinLOS]

Thai banks do charge if you use any other bank than the one you bank with.. However the charge is really small.. IIRC its 20 baht per withdrawal..

[texnchicago]

I use my VISA back debit card at ATM and my bank charges about 6US per transaction.

[Mojo42]

As usual, thanks for everyone's advice: really helpful. Look forward to seeing some of you next month!

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Mojo42

As usual, thanks for everyone's advice: really helpful. Look forward to seeing some of you next month!

Look forward to it too Mojo. Bring your ATM card with you and I'll show you where the machine is and watch your six while you do a withdrawal and then take you back to the MTB and help you spend it! Sorted.

Welcome to the board

[edje123]

credit cards usually charge a certain amount with each withdrawl, for debit cards u usually pay a annual fee to enable you to withdraw money worldwide = maestro service, but no more charges for withdrawls then. (that's the way it's in Belgium)
It's not possible to get money from a savings account at an ATM, unless maybe an ATM of your own bank in your own country.

I mostly use my visa card once or twice to get out a big sum, and use the debit card more frequently for daily flash money

My checkings account is not too loaded, I transfer money on it from another account via online banking if necessary. This together with having no overdraft limites the damage if ever they should "hack" my account, copy my card,...

I never pay with my Visa card in small shops or restaurants, and i only pay with visa if i can pay with my pin code. Never let someone walk away with your card to enter the transaction behind the counter.

Leave your cards in the hotel safe when possible, provide yourself with enough cash to get you trough the day

[keith67]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Thai banks do charge if you use any other bank than the one you bank with.. However the charge is really small.. IIRC its 20 baht per withdrawal..

I have used several U.K bank account debit cards and never been charged by the Thai bank only the U.K bank.

[Mac]

UK Barclaycard Mastercard and Visa routinely block all Thai ATM transactions unless you inform them first before leaving the UK. This is apparently because Thai banks do not conform to the new security procedures. Chip and pin.

My card was copied at the Ban Sukhothai in Bangla Road when I paid my hotel bill. Luckily it was the one I only use for paying the hotel in Thailand so the fraud from Australia was obvious.

Mac

[Patrs]

When in LOS, I always use the same ATM to withdraw $$. The bank machine after Mr.Goods fastfood joint. Thus far, I never had a problem.

[MassMoose]

Originally Posted by texnchicago

I use my VISA back debit card at ATM and my bank charges about 6US per transaction.

This used to happen to me when I withdrew money in Canada. Sovereign used to charge me $5/withdrawel. (I am about to rant). My wallet along with card got stolen from my locked gym locker and tried to cancel it. Called the Sovereign people on a Sunday(day it was stolen) to get a new ATM card delivered to me ASAP regardless of cost to me as I was leaving for Montreal the following Thursday for a weekend of Canada style mongering. They told me not to get rush delivery on new card as it would be there before then(after I argued many times to get rush delivery regardless of cost to me). No card arrive before trip. No ATM card arrive week after trip. Call bank customer service find card is still not canceled after my first call. They said would cancel and send me another. 2 weeks later no new ATM card. Call customer service on Friday night and they say stolen card still not closed after I have already told them twice before. Say overnight me new card at Sovereign expense. They say NO. Saturday morning withdraw all my money from there and close account.

New Small bank now. No ATM fees at my bank or international ATMs.

Moral of my ramble. Screw the "money grubbing scum" large banks.

Fee this!

[HEADING2LOS]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Ohh and VISA does work in all Thai ATMs I have tried.. Plus worst case you can go with VISA and a passport and get cash from a money change booth..

Don't know how it works......if we take the debit card and passport to exchange booth, is it like they will swipe it in their swipe machine and pay us the cash. If this is the case, do they and how much they charge for this.

cheers

[landofsmiles]

Be careful out there. Probably safer to use ATMs outside bank branches where there is likely to be CCTV surveillance and the scammers are less likely to tamper with the machines>>>

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Bankers call for vigilance against fraud

PHUKET: Poonsin Sinthanapat, president of the Phuket Bankers’ Club, yesterday called for people in Phuket to be especially prudent in their financial affairs following a spate of fraud on the island.

At the Governor Meets Press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, K. Poonsin called for people to be careful in many kinds of financial transactions, including use of credit cards and ATM cards, and buying or selling cars.

“There are many instances of fraud now around the country, including Phuket,” he said.

K. Poonsin said that banks have been alerted to many fraud tricks so far this year, including theft of a genuine credit card from its owner and replacing it with a fake one so that the real card will not be reported stolen until long after the crime.

“In this case, the banks are not responsible for any purchases that are refused by the credit card holder [before the card is reported stolen], because the card is not canceled before it is used by the thief. So the card holder must be very careful,” said K. Poonsin.

He added that people should be wary when using ATM machines. “Some crooks fit ATMs with electronic devices that can detect account details and PIN codes, and then withdraw money from the victim’s account later,” he said.

“People should also be careful when they get a call from anyone who claims that he or she will give a big cash reward for anything, and be wary of people who try to persuade them to transfer money to their account before they will transfer a large amount to them,” he said.

K. Poonsin added that people renting out their cars are also being targeted. About 30 car owners have been cheated by a gang at a total cost of about 15 million baht.

“The gang says they want to rent the car and offer to rent it at a high rate for the first one or two months. They then take the car out of the country and sell it,” he explained.

“The victims are almost always people with financial problems. Car owners should also be wary of people who ask to buy a car and request to take it after making only a down payment and promising to pay off in installments later. This might be a trick, too,” he added.

Phuket Gazette

[Mac]

I got "copied" at the Ban Sukhothai Hotel where I was staying in Bangla Road and since then the stable door has been well and truly bolted.

1) Apply for a Nationwide Credit card and Flex Account.
The good old RBS were charging 2.75% on top of the ordinary handling fee for debit card ATM withdrawals as well as using a ridiculously low foreign exhange rate about 5 points below the real one. It was costing about £12 per £100 withdrawn.

The Nationwide Flex account dows not charge for foreign transactions at all and last time I got 63.20 when the Siam Bank was quoting 62.50.

The Nationwide credit card also does not charge at all for foreign exhange transactions. This saves about 3% on top of the ordinary charges levied by other cards.

2) Tell the bank what you are doing.
I now always tell the bank where I am going and what I am doing abroad. I also tell them the likely expenditure if I am plannning to buy anything above £1,000. (ie a hotel bill).

I then tell them when I have returned to the UK and check all the statements immediately on my return online.

3) Don't let your card out of your sight
That is how my card got copied at the Ban Sukhothai. The receptionist took it into the office.. Now if they want to do something other than swipe it in the machine in front of me I simply say .. NO. In a restaurant go with your card to pay.

4) Check the machine for obvious tampering
Some ATM machines have been "skimmed" by putting a false plate on top of the existing one. Hard to see when drunk in the Bangla Road but check for a raised keyplate or a video camera above the keypad. If in doubt go somewhere else..

5) Take out ordinary insurance on your credit card
Credit Card Services offer a full insurance of about £30 per year to cover all cards and fraud. I use Barclaycard services but most of the main companies offer this. Use it if you are going to Thailand..

Conclusions
Thailand does not yet use chip and pin technology so it is fairly easy to copy the cards. Be aware and be careful. Most people are honest, some are not.

Mac

[landofsmiles]

Originally Posted by Mac

I got "copied" at the Ban Sukhothai Hotel where I was staying in Bangla Road and since then the stable door has been well and truly bolted.

What did you do about it?...challenge the manager/owner?...call the police?...or nothing?

[White Nancy]

M42, it's been said elsewhere but worth repeating, ATM's in Thailand, unlike virtually anywhere else, give you your money first then your card. You'll be used to the other way round and it's really easy at first to take your money, the mind says "cash = transaction complete" and off you go leaving card in the machine!