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Compromised" Present cards are no longer valid and we will get new cards in 5 days.
Apparently someone in Mexico is using our card numbers to attempt to purchase small items on ebay using paypal. Credit Card fraud staff think that someone got our information from an ATM machine in Mexico. I carried enuff cash for the 3 week trip but we both did use an ATM in Puerto Escondito. Neither one of us bought anything with the credit cards so I suppose the ATM is responsible. It was the ATM up the street from the Sante Fe Hotel.
By the way, I heard banks won't send replacement debit or credit cards to a temporary address in Mexico.
LW
But as one commentator said, who would use a credit card to withdraw cash (and thus pay enormous cash-advance fees that are as much as 30% a year in US banks) and charged to you from the day you made the withdrawal?
The only bank I had trouble with, and now do not use is HSBC. In 2004, the ATM dispensed less money than I asked for, was charged the full amount of my withddrawal, and was therefore obligated to contact my bank to get it resolved.
Last May 2012, HSBC did not dispense ANY MONEY AT ALL, but I was still charged the full 4000 peso withdrawal, which was credited back to me within 3 weeks.
All credit cards today, which can now only be part of four companies in the world: MasterCard, Visa, Novus network, or American Express, will eventually return your money if you make a claim or call their 24-hour number, which is generally free.
2. Agree with #5 - if it's a fraud, it is very difficult, at least for American cardholder, not to get money back - regardless, whether this is a frauf agains your bank account or CC card. It may take some time but consumer protection laws are string in this regard.
3. Agree with #4 - why do you use CC to get cash? Not that it matters from the fraud perspective, but still why?
4. Never had issues like this travelling to Central Mexico since 1998. However, have few friends whose accounts been compromised immediately after going to Yucatan or Oaxaca. Just adds to my love to Central Mexico, even though I know it may happen anywhere.
Fortunately my credit card company caught the issues and didn't allow any of the fraudulent charges.
But it is an issue. An in my case, it was with a purchase, not a cash advance.
That's why I only use ATMs at major banks in Mexico, never at convenience stores or such (and yes, I never use a credit card to get cash - way too expensive).
Good advice to have a second, reserve card when travelling for any length of time. Trying to straighten things like that out while travelling in foreign lands is a headache. One trip to Mexico I forgot to notify my bank I was travelling abroad and they froze my credit card account when they saw foreign transactions appearing. Took the better part of a day to sort that one out.
I also once had a problem in the US.
So there is no need for comments like "the banks are as corrupt as anything else here."
OP...I know the ATM you mention. In front of Arco Iris, I think. I also believe it's a fairly new one and itlooked "suspicious" to me. Can't really explain why, it just did. Years ago there was a problem with HSBC ATM on Playa Zicatela. Enough reported trouble that they have removed it.
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Credit cards
Today my Novia and I received calls from our credit card companies that our Visa cards had beenCompromised" Present cards are no longer valid and we will get new cards in 5 days.
Apparently someone in Mexico is using our card numbers to attempt to purchase small items on ebay using paypal. Credit Card fraud staff think that someone got our information from an ATM machine in Mexico. I carried enuff cash for the 3 week trip but we both did use an ATM in Puerto Escondito. Neither one of us bought anything with the credit cards so I suppose the ATM is responsible. It was the ATM up the street from the Sante Fe Hotel.
2
I have found Puerto Escondido to be the worst place to use my debit cards in ATM (and I mean bank ATM). I usually have to visit four or five different banks (and often a couple of machines at each bank) to find one that will give me cash, and it's not just that they're short of cash, because they often work for others. Ran into another foreign tourist in January who was having the same problem as me. But have not had the problem described by xinloi, thank goodness.By the way, I heard banks won't send replacement debit or credit cards to a temporary address in Mexico.
4
I think it's probably unusual for someone to be using a credit card to obtain cash from an ATM machine in Mexico. Doing so is the most expensive way to get cash. Using an ATM/Debit card seems the preferable, less expensive way to withdraw cash using a card. Using multiple credit cards, from different issuers, to withdraw cash is probably also not a good thing to do. Whether the card account information was obtained by cloning a card in Mexico, or through another form of identify theft ... seems undetermined at this point. Attempting to purchase from eBay, online, using a PayPal method ... is more complicated than using the account information otherwise, particularly because PayPal account identification is also required. Someone could attempt theft via PayPal without knowing anything specific about the actual Visa account information. Sounds to me like a big piece of this 'puzzle' is missing. Well, at least you didn't suffer a loss. Good for you.LW
5
In the 9 years that I have lived in Mexico, almost without a break, I have NEVER had a questionable transaction on either or debit card, and I have used them in all kinds of places, from the smallest shops to the most upscale and reliable stores, such as Sears, Fabricas de Francia or Starbucks.But as one commentator said, who would use a credit card to withdraw cash (and thus pay enormous cash-advance fees that are as much as 30% a year in US banks) and charged to you from the day you made the withdrawal?
The only bank I had trouble with, and now do not use is HSBC. In 2004, the ATM dispensed less money than I asked for, was charged the full amount of my withddrawal, and was therefore obligated to contact my bank to get it resolved.
Last May 2012, HSBC did not dispense ANY MONEY AT ALL, but I was still charged the full 4000 peso withdrawal, which was credited back to me within 3 weeks.
All credit cards today, which can now only be part of four companies in the world: MasterCard, Visa, Novus network, or American Express, will eventually return your money if you make a claim or call their 24-hour number, which is generally free.
6
1. OP, thanks for the warning.2. Agree with #5 - if it's a fraud, it is very difficult, at least for American cardholder, not to get money back - regardless, whether this is a frauf agains your bank account or CC card. It may take some time but consumer protection laws are string in this regard.
3. Agree with #4 - why do you use CC to get cash? Not that it matters from the fraud perspective, but still why?
4. Never had issues like this travelling to Central Mexico since 1998. However, have few friends whose accounts been compromised immediately after going to Yucatan or Oaxaca. Just adds to my love to Central Mexico, even though I know it may happen anywhere.
7
I had someone attempt fraudulent charges on my credit cart a couple of years ago while I was traveling in Mexico. As near as I could tell, it happened after I purchased a bus ticket with a credit card at the main bus station in Monterrey. As I recall it, the person took my card and went away with it to "complete the transaction," so he would have had plenty of opportunity to copy my information.Fortunately my credit card company caught the issues and didn't allow any of the fraudulent charges.
But it is an issue. An in my case, it was with a purchase, not a cash advance.
9
Regardless whether the OP was using the credit card to get cash, the point is the number was stolen. Same thing happened to my niece in New Jersey a couple months ago and to me in Los Angeles about 15-years ago - it can happen anywhere (they caught the guy in Los Angeles after he charged $1,500 on y card for repairs to his car - not too smart since the repair shop had his license number).That's why I only use ATMs at major banks in Mexico, never at convenience stores or such (and yes, I never use a credit card to get cash - way too expensive).
Good advice to have a second, reserve card when travelling for any length of time. Trying to straighten things like that out while travelling in foreign lands is a headache. One trip to Mexico I forgot to notify my bank I was travelling abroad and they froze my credit card account when they saw foreign transactions appearing. Took the better part of a day to sort that one out.
12
I agree with #10. As I mentioned in post 7 above, I did have a problem with a credit card in Mexico once. I have also used debit and credit cards many, many times in Mexico without problems.I also once had a problem in the US.
So there is no need for comments like "the banks are as corrupt as anything else here."
13
#11 Good for you. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Obviously, it doesn't happen to EVERYONE all the time. But it DOES happen. Buying with a c.c. in Mexico is chancey. Restaurants and stores have machines that can duplicate your card.OP...I know the ATM you mention. In front of Arco Iris, I think. I also believe it's a fairly new one and itlooked "suspicious" to me. Can't really explain why, it just did. Years ago there was a problem with HSBC ATM on Playa Zicatela. Enough reported trouble that they have removed it.
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