ATM Warning

[Mike]

Credit card fraud in the US is huge, but the techniques are different here and abroad, and Mexico is very different than the US in regards to corruption and crime.

A country with as rich in natural resources and as rich of a location and as rich as a history of modern settlement doesn't resemble a 3rd world country when you venture 25 miles from the coast unless something is very F'd up with the place for a long time and Mexico's long history of corruption is what has created what it has become or more specifically what it has not become or not been able to become today.

Let's be real here. It's 2013. In Mexico you can't drink clean water, you can't flush toilet paper down a toilet and they can't even make exact change in their local currency, less than a tenth of the country has reliable electricity. Millions of Mexicans risk life and limb to escape the country to come to their northern neighbor illegally in search of economic salvation, and yet Mexico is the 10th largest exporter of petroleum in the world... where is the money?

And as usual, just because somebody is stating the facts about something doesn't mean they are bashing it. Mexico is what it is, but I'm not going to pretend that it's something else. It's 2013 in the US the median income is about $35,000 and the Mexican median income is about $3000. We share roughly the same geographic location and both countries achieved independence roughly within 25 years of each other and yet....

so yes, there is a problem in Mexico and it's corruption and it's held Mexico back in the world. Mexico should be an economic powerhouse but it can't be because of corruption and the culture of corruption that exists in Mexican society.

If you still want to be in denial then simply address the main question yourself -

Seems that if there is some type of Chamber of Commerce for San Miguel, they should try and put a stop to this. It sure doesn't look very good for divers/tourism.

 

[Mossman]

There are a ton of things you can say are particularly big problems in Mexico especially, but credit/debit card fraud doesn't qualify as a "Mexico" problem.

No kidding. Since the U.S. became a third-world country, we're not any better than the others. I bet Europeans are just as likely to avoid our potholed highways, our collapsing bridges, and the ever-high gun crime rates. It's a miracle we get any tourists whatsoever. Thankfully Mexicans like to visit here!

Our American credit cards aren't as widely accepted in Europe, BTW, because we refuse to adopt the secure chip-and-PIN system.

 

[Carlos Danger]

My dive bud & I returned from Cozumel July 28, 2013 after 9 days of diving. July 27th, we did not dive so we planned on a trip to the beach at PDC. On the way to the ferry pier my dive bud wanted to stop at an ATM to get cash. We first stopped at the 2 ATMs on Calle 5 & the Drag (by the chamber). He said that they didn't work so we walked down to the Plaza and stopped at the 2 ATMs on the NW corner of the plaza. He said that the first one gave him some type of error on his debit card so he used another from a different account. It didn't work either. He tried the second machine and it worked giving him dollars. It's been a lttle over 2 weeks since then but yesterday he found that both accounts had been drained, with several thousand in each account. Here's a cut-and-paste of his email extract: "
I have spent half the day dealing with fraudulent charges on both of my bank accounts. My mouse money and the family money were both cleaned out by fraudulent charges made in Mexico the past 2 days.

Remember when those bank machines did not work. I bet they had been hacked during the night so that everyone trying to use them would have their debit card info stolen.

BOA said they would reimburse me 100% Chase did not commit to 100% reimbursement—however, I think they will or I will raise a stink.
Problem for now is that I have no money and no cards.

It is a good thing that tomorrow is pay day."

Those that have been to or are going should be aware and check your accounts!

The advice from the banks was to go to a bank and use the in person counter to withdraw from a CC or debit.

Whoa! Thanks for the info.

I never even take my ATM/Debit card on dive trips, only use my credit cards or cash. If I need extra cash I go to a bank and get an advance on my credit card.

 

[scubatree]

I had my card compromised at a DFW area hotel. The charges were at a convenience at 500 dollars a time and a one time charge at a pizza hut (I guess trying to find 1500 dollars worth of stuff in a convenience store works up quite an appetite), so it's not unique to Mexico. What is worse is I called the PD where the charges where made and they couldn't find the convenience store that the charges where made at until I gave them the address that I had goggled. They still didn't solve the crime.

 

[toddthecat]

Never heard of a card skimmer? They're neat little devices. They go over where the card is inserted into the machine (these can be used on gas pumps too...anything with a card reader). They look like part of the machine but are actually attachments. You use the card and skimmer scans it. You can still use the machine and be none the wiser. Information is stored on the skimmer and it is later retrieved to have your card information downloaded to a computer. Once downloaded, your card information can be printed onto a new card with a magnetic strip (blank hotel key cards can even be used and they're very cheap). From there, they basically have your card. Small covert cameras tend to be attached to ATMs that are used to visually record you putting in your PIN number. Skimmers at gas station pumps are more popular because not everyone uses a PIN code on them.

Just some info for you...

 

[DandyDon]

 

[Ron Lee]

I keep a separate bank account/ATM card for ATM use when travelling abroad, only move money into it when I travel overseas and move any remainng back out upon return. I would think twice about using an ATM card out of the USA that is attached to your main account.

I do the same. That is a huge protection method along with reimbursement by your bank for fraudulent use of the $5-10 that may be in it after you get home.

People should ask about this type process before they go to Mexico.

 

[Mike]

I do the same. That is a huge protection method along with reimbursement by your bank for fraudulent use of the $5-10 that may be in it after you get home.

People should ask about this type process before they go to Mexico.

I used to use a credit card there all the time, since you have a bit more protection with credit cards than debit cards, I figured it was safer, but it got to be a pain in the rear to return from Mexico and find fradulent charges, and dump the credit card and then spend a month being reminded by calls from places where my card is on file that no longer work since the number is now different on the new card, or have to go through and re-enter CC info on Amazon, net-flicks, and a dozen other places.... it is crazy how much can be tied to a credit card now-a-days.

Now if they scam the ATM card there is nothing associated with it to have to mess with, just start a new one.

With the exception of the ATM scams, (by the way if you can see sneakers under the ATM that's a good sign you might not want to use it!) CC fraud in Mexico is often pretty low tech. Seems to more often than being technology based, but person based fraud, give it to a waiter who takes it away into the back room to run it and God knows where the information ends up from your card. The place I suspect the most from dealing with this stuff in the past has been restaurants. There have been trips where we've only used a CC at restaurants and then found the card compromised. Seems that hotels and dive operators and even tour operators have been super honest, but restaurants...

 

[azscubadude]

No kidding. Since the U.S. became a third-world country, we're not any better than the others. I bet Europeans are just as likely to avoid our potholed highways, our collapsing bridges, and the ever-high gun crime rates. It's a miracle we get any tourists whatsoever. Thankfully Mexicans like to visit here!

One of the reasons the Europeans still come is because their tax rates are so high (VAT taxes, as high as 27%, income taxes as high as 60% and gas prices ranging from $5.50 to almost $11.00 per gallon) it is cheaper for them to fly here, enjoy a vacation and buy as much stuff as they can haul back home than to buy it in their own country.

 

[DandyDon]

And don't go alone after midnight to withdraw money...

COZUMEL, Q. Roo. - Early yesterday morning, a cardholder was violently assaulted after withdrawing money from an ATM in the Avenida Pedro Joaquin Coldwell . To strip him of his belongings the victim was threatened with a knife.
Continued at "¿Dónde están los policías, donde está la seguridad de Cozumel?" (sic)

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