Credit Card Skimming in Antigua | Guatemala - Lonely Planet Forum

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Mon, 27 Oct 2014 22:17:25 +0000

We just arrived home for our 3 week stay in Guatemala and let me just say we LOVED it. The country is a fantastic place to visit and we miss it already.

I wanted to post a small heads up to people headed to Antigua. I ended up having my credit card skimmed somewhere along the way in Antigua and found a whole bunch of fraudulent charges on my card from casino's and fast food spots in GC. I still had my card in my physical possession, so the thiefs must have imprinted my information on another card and started using it immediately. I quickly had the card turned off with the card company and had the charges reversed. I can't narrow down where it might have happened at to smaller than 8-9 businesses and I am not willing to smear all of them hoping to nail the one who did it. All I can suggest it you keep a close eye on your account online so you can nip something like this in the bud before too many charges rack up.

PLEASE don't let this post dissuade you in any way from visiting Guatemala. The place is fantastic and you will not be disappointed. Just keep your wits about you and watch your account to make sure you are protected. Happy Travels!

1

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Mon, 27 Oct 2014 22:54:55 +0000

Heading south tomorrow - we don't usually use a charge card but thanks for the heads up.

My photos w/ blog & travelogue links on the main page of each collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

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Mon, 27 Oct 2014 23:41:11 +0000

Well at least they had some fun with it!

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 00:06:48 +0000

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4

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 10:58:13 +0000

Credit cards and use of ATM machines have long been a problem. I use American Express travelers checks and cash them at banks that have a sign in the window that they sell them.

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:37:39 +0000

I can't believe this still happens in Antigua...we were there 2010/11 4 nights total and didn't have any issues, but only used a ATM that was recommended at the time...

Thanks for the post...

Adventure Travel to Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, EU, USA National Parks, enjoying culture, cuisine, motorcycling, scuba diving, surfing, sailing, rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, nature, wildlife. Get a Guidebook, and get lost!

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 11:55:58 +0000

I still think we lose sight of the fact that this is WHY we use plastic- because as long as you have not compromised the card (i.e. revealed the PIN) then its not your problem. Quick telephone call, charges reversed, job done, on we go. We have let the card companies try to make us scared that we are to blame/liable when originally the fact that we are fully protected was how they sold us the cards in the first place!

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7

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 12:05:22 +0000

Many times though this fraud will result in having the card cancelled, and a new one sent to you, but that presents a major issue, as the card issuers usually will only send a replacement card to the billing address, making travel onward for the remainder of the vacation a pain in the arse, as getting a Fed Ex in CA is not as easy as one would think...

But I agree, the charges are not a big deal, as the card user is protected in most situations.

Adventure Travel to Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, EU, USA National Parks, enjoying culture, cuisine, motorcycling, scuba diving, surfing, sailing, rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, nature, wildlife. Get a Guidebook, and get lost!

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:11:58 +0000

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Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:55:44 +0000

Yeah, sounds like an old-fashioned bad guy in a hotel or restaurant made an imprint and went to town (literally).

I've been using ATMs across the country for the last few months with no issues. Still kind of traumatized by that one in Antigua though, never going near it again.

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