ATM Fraud

[rducasey]

Just a note of caution to everyone. My friend's son just left for South Africa in a Peace Corp type program, and had only been there a day, when he emailed home yesterday to have his mom check his ATM account as he said he was not able to access funds. It seems $3200 he had in his account was wiped out in 4 withdrawals of $800 soon after arriving. She went to the bank and they said thieves place very sophisticated cameras in ATM booths and it's called "skimming". It allows them to access the account number and from an area nearby by remote cameras they watch the PIN number being put in. Bottom line is they get the account number and the PIN and using a generic card they are able to access the account. Also he had a $2500 a day withdrawal limit, something he did not know about. He thought he was only allowed up to $200 a day on ATM withdrawals. It is being investigated and at this point she does not know if he will get any back through bank insurance. Dateline did a special on this also a while back. Airports are particular targets. So when using your atm in public places, or even not so public places, keep your hand over the account number when putting the card into the machine and also when putting in your PIN. My friend is so upset since here is her son in a foreign country with no cash and she does not dare put any money into that account. Odd thing is the day after he left his bank called her to report suspicious activity on his card. She said "If you mean is it being used in South Africa, that's fine since he is there." They did not say that 4 withdrawals of $800 were made.

[sapphiresilver]

I've heard about this. There was something about it on the news one night. It's very worrying.

[carl1951]

Have heard they not only use camera but highy sensitive listening devices to record the sound of the touch pad.

With more security, we have less.

Almost better off going back to old-fashioned travelers checks.

Later, Carl

[bjobsessed]

All the buttons here are at the same pitch so that wouldn't help them.

[awlrite4now]

Only problem is that many places will no longer take a travellers check because they are too easy to counterfeit. Same thing with money orders. I recently got a Canadian postal money order and the bank is sitting on it for 30 days to clear. Outrageous!