BajaNomad - Credit Card fraud

Credit Card fraud

Bajahowodd - 12-16-2008 at 04:27 PM

As someone who has traveled Baja since 1985, and has eavesdropped on the Nomad forum for years, I finally decided to register because I wanted to others' experience on the topic. So, Hi to all. We were in Ensenada over the Thanksgiving weekend. Although I do recall it was not too long ago that the acceptance of credit cards was nonexistant, I have, in recent years used plastic at what i have considered to be reputable establishments. While in Ensenada, I used my plastic at San Nicolas Hotel, Estero Beach Hotel, Las Cazuelas and El Rey Sol restaurants. The only time the card was ever really out of my sight was at Rey Sol. In fact, when first presented with the check, I found four dinners listed for our party of three. Took what I thought was an inordinate amount of time to get my card back. And by the way, the food stunk. Been there many times before and enjoyed. This time, it was like the chef quit and a busboy was cooking. Anyway, this past weekend, I received a call from a security company that is contracted by my bank. After first inquiring if I had given my card to anyone. When I answered no, they patched me in to a loss prevention supervisor at Nordstrom in South Coast Plaza who advised me that a woman was attempting to buy shoes there. Long story, short, Costa Mesa Police arrested her. Turns out she had a fake duplicate. Also turns out she was a Mexican national from Ensenada. In speaking later with my credit card issuer, I was informed that there had already been another charge of $1500 made on the card. They also told me that they are experiencing a great deal of such fraud centered in northern Baja. I request your observations and experiences. Thanks

Pops - 12-16-2008 at 04:42 PM

I was "re-charged" for a stay at the Fiesta Inn in Los Cabos (1991) a year after being there.
Luckily my secretary caught it and notified AE
Problem solved.

lizard lips - 12-16-2008 at 04:56 PM

Welcome officially to the board Bajaho-

I would contact Jean Lupe Bitterlin the owner of El Rey Sol and tell him what happened and try and get the name of the woman who was arrested and see if there is any connection to his employees. Jean Lupe is a very nice person and will go the extra mile with your concerns as I'm sure Niko Sadd with Hotel San Nicholas.

This could have happened at any of the restaurants or resorts you visited but a little investigation with what is on the police report when the woman was arrested may determine where in Ensenada this took place.

With what has occurred recently with the economy and the losses these businesses have experienced negative feedback from tourists will hit these places even harder and I'm sure contact will get somewhere with what has happened to you.

Give it a try..... Good luck

karenintx - 12-16-2008 at 05:35 PM

Your story sounds like what happened to us while in Puerto Vallarta a few years ago. My husband got concerned when it was taking too long for the waiter to return our card. Long story short...We always look at all of our credit card accounts via the internet everyday and thank goodness we do. There were several charges there in PV that we didn't make. Starting out with a small amount then building up to a very large charge at "The Catus Club"...a gentleman's clubs there in PV. We called the credit card company collect and was advised "we have already left a message on your home phone in the USA." No problem all charges were reversed. My hubby's remark..."Sure hope that a**hole enjoyed his lap dance!"

We are part-timers in Cabo and use our cards everywhere. So far no problem but then that could change at anytime.

Accord to our credit card company the thieves use a card reader to capture all the data from the magnetic strip on the back of your card. They then sell the info and someone makes up a credit card with their name on the front but it has all of your credit card info on the magnetic strip. Even if they were asked for their ID, it would match the name on the front of the card.

Lessons we learned:

1. Make sure all of our credit card companys have not only our home and cell phone numbers in the USA but also in Mexico. If we travel anywhere else besides Cabo San Lucas we always advise the credit card company of our dates of travel and provide them with a hotel number.

2. Continue to look at our accounts daily.

3. Don't be afraid to follow or find the waiter if you think something is wrong.

We now use Capital One credit card when traveling internationally mainly because they do not charge the extra 1 - 3 percent per charge for the international convertion fee.

[Edited on 12-17-2008 by karenintx]

[Edited on 12-17-2008 by karenintx]

tjBill - 12-16-2008 at 07:03 PM

Thanks for the heads up.

I always try use pesos cash and avoid anything quoting dollar prices.

Bajafun777 - 12-16-2008 at 07:17 PM

I use my credit card but my wife always makes sure we can see what they are doing or I have to go see where they are at with it. I just tell them that I was going to go to the men's room and wanted to get the card transaction done before doing so. They sometimes tell me they will wait and bring it to me and I just say it's ok I am already here and I can wait a few minutes. I must admit I too always have a problem of if I can not see them then I need to. These young ones woking in these places now know so many tricks in this new computer world it is just not worth the worry while traveling and even if you check your emails daily sometimes they can wait a few days getting you to let your guard down and bam they strike. I have eaten at El Rey and always got good food and the San Nicholas several times as I like their bar and restruant being in one easy access along with the Caliente and slots too!! I have not had any false charges and I have only heard about the "Catus Club" while down in P.V. but since I did not have any dollar bills on me I did not go :lol:

. Later-----bajafun777

fdt - 12-16-2008 at 08:14 PM

I feel bad about what happened to you and I was just on the phone with a representative of the Ensenada Tourism Board and a friend of Mr. Bitterlin , the owner of the Rey Sol and they would like to do a follwo up on this.
The contact email is mybajacontact@yahoo.com and the name is Mr. Juan Saldana.
I hope this helps.
Fernando

Theplaintruth - 12-16-2008 at 08:19 PM

This is a common problem in Mexico and you should never use your cards in Mexico. There is no law enforcement in Mexico for gringos and they will rip you off with your credit cards because its not face to face robbery.
Americans get defrauded every day in Baja because they think the Mexican authorities care about the fraud problems and the crime against Americans in general. The do not care and its going to get worse.Leave all valuables at home and only spend pesos. Drive an older vehicle and do not flash cash. Better yet,Stay home until they clean the cesspool up.

fdt - 12-16-2008 at 08:25 PM

is that the plain truth newbie?

longlegsinlapaz - 12-16-2008 at 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fdt
is that the plain truth newbie?

fdt, that's NO newbie, it that same old repeatedly banned person making a flimsy attempt to hide behind a new persona! :no:

hell, I was a victim of this type of fraud in Central CA

BajaVida - 12-16-2008 at 08:56 PM

this is not unique to Baja, so why bother posting this stuff?

a charge appeared on my card from Milan, Italy and I have never been there

and the source of the fraud was someone from the good old USA

these card readers are everywhere

someone told me that credit card companies refuse to encrypt their cards to make this more difficult

fdt - 12-16-2008 at 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz

fdt, that's NO newbie, it that same old repeatedly banned person making a flimsy attempt to hide behind a new persona! :no:

Can't wait to see the word Banned under the handle.

BV is right on

thebajarunner - 12-16-2008 at 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaVida
this is not unique to Baja, so why bother posting this stuff?

a charge appeared on my card from Milan, Italy and I have never been there

and the source of the fraud was someone from the good old USA

these card readers are everywhere

someone told me that credit card companies refuse to encrypt their cards to make this more difficult

I recently got a charge from a toy store in a town in New Jersey (only 3000 miles from here) that I have never heard of.

Don't hang this one on Mexico, it is universal...

Woooosh - 12-16-2008 at 09:29 PM

Most likely owners of the establishments you visited with your credit card won't even be aware of the problem- unless multiple people like you contact them. It is the waiters that carry their own credit card readers (they are battery operated and palm-sized now), swipe all the cards and sell them in bulk. They get paid by the number of good credit cards they can sell. The buyer reloads the account info onto any other credit card or a blank for use right away- before you even get back to the states. It's the same technology guys use to pirate the satellite cards- and you know how many of those guys there are around! We were victims of this last year- the people were caught at the Coach outlet store.

The stolen card users must be spoiled brat TJ women as they were caught at Nordy's and Coach. :lol:

I wouldn't be surprised if it was an all female crime ring. Sound perfect- non violent, not a direct crime, and they get to go shopping too! Why wouldn't the women of Mexico find a way to work the system?

credit card fraud

bonanza bucko - 12-17-2008 at 07:07 AM

The last time we stayed at the El Cortez in San Felipe we had our card cloned. We have stayed there and eaten there for years. No more.

When we checked in and attempted to pay with our card we waited about fifteen minutes and were told that the card reader was inop. We paid cash. Then in the restaurant later that day the same thing happened.

The El Cortez was the only place we used the card in Mexico. Upon arriving back in San Diego a week later we were called by our credit card company and told that two purchases for about $1000 had been made at WalMart in Yuma.

We don't know if the hotel was the thief or someone in the back office or someone in the restaurant. But, the bottom line is, convert to Pesos at the border and pay cash....you'll get ripped off on the exchange rate if you pay dollars.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-17-2008 at 08:25 AM

This happens all over the World>

Happened to me in Terrell Texas at a Holiday Inn Express.

The Clerk had one of those copy machines. She stepped back out of sight and did a swipe. The company caught it in a cou[ple of days.

Don't let your Credit card out of Sight. At a Resturant go with the Waiter to watch your card being swiped.

Skeet/Loreto

805gregg - 12-17-2008 at 08:56 AM

One way to defeat this type of fraud, use cash.

Baja&Back - 12-17-2008 at 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Theplaintruth
This is a common problem in Mexico and you should never use your cards in Mexico.

C'mon.It's a common problem all over the world, not just Mexico! Credit card rings move THOUSANDS of stolen cards every day in Hong Kong. Data is collected & distributed via internet and sold to theives in every country.

Bajajorge - 12-17-2008 at 09:34 AM

I quit using my credit card in Baja a couple of years ago when they got me for a couple of thousand. Deal in Pesos only.

Iflyfish - 12-17-2008 at 09:53 AM

Welcome to Nomads and I appreciate the post. It is good to be periodically reminded of scams so that we can remain vigilant.

Iflyfish

El Camote - 12-17-2008 at 10:00 AM

I received a letter from a hotel I had stayed in several years ago. Their credit card files had been hacked and they were being proactive by warning everyone who'd been on the list. You've got to appreciate a merchant who takes that extra step - can't do anything to help their bottom line.

Checked with the credit card company and there had been no unusual charges but played it safe and cancelled the card anyway. My info. could be floating around for many years before it was utilized.

Bajahowodd - 12-17-2008 at 11:03 AM

Thanks for the contact info, fdt. I will follow up.

I realize that this sort of thing happens worldwide. I suppose my wanting to share this particular situation arises from my disappointment, inasmuch as I have always tended to deal with family-owned long-standing reputable businesses, such as the ones I mentioned in my initial post.

Many of the posts help to confirm to me that the transaction had to have happened at Rey Sol, because that was the only place where the credit card left my sight, let alone, the room. Really hard for someone to swipe your card into a illicit reader while you're standing there watching.

fdt - 12-17-2008 at 11:05 AM

Good, I'll pass on the info.

Credit Card Fraud

C-Urchin - 12-17-2008 at 11:25 AM

Reminds me of Jamaica!

C-Urchin - 12-17-2008 at 11:34 AM

If I use a card anywhere (and I travel internationally for scuba), I ALWAYS and only use American Expess or cash. Amex answers the phone anywhere in the world and they fix your problem on the spot. I got a card replaced once in Singapore in 2 hours delivered at my hotel!

Of course good old pesos are they way to go!

Bajahowodd - 12-20-2008 at 12:14 PM

Wanted to follow up. Thanks to fellow Nomad Fernando, and Juan Saldana, I received an e-mail from Jean Loup Bitterlin, owner of El Rey Sol. He requested additional information, as well as sharing the he, himself has been victimized by credit card fraud. I learned something in the process of sharing the additional information. Sr. Bitterlin advised me that they usually use wireless card sliders and process the transaction at the diners' table, but their machine was broken. Hence they had to swipe the card away from the dining room. Having saved my receipt, when I retrieved it to provide info to Bitterlin, I noticed that unlike most receipts I recall, this one contained my complete credit card number, and of course, my name. My experience has been that the number on receipts is a series of X's with only the last four digits showing. Don't know if it's of any consequence, but for me, in the future, if I ever receive a receipt with the complete number on it, I will immediately confiscate both copies and demand the transaction be voided.

oxxo - 12-20-2008 at 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by karenintx
We are part-timers in Cabo and use our cards everywhere. So far no problem but then that could change at anytime.

We are full timers in Los Cabos and rarely use a credit card even though we have the Capital One card. We just pay cash (pesos) and sleep better at night.

HCR - 12-21-2008 at 12:53 PM

I think a lot of this fraud continues because credit card companies deal with it simply as a "cost of doing business." More reasons for big fees!

A number of years back I returned my rental car at the El Paso TX airport, inspected it as I always did before turning the keys in, and a week later received a letter from the car rental company with a photo and a claim for damage.

Called the CC company and they told me not to worry as I was covered because I had used my CC to rent the car. I protested that it was fraud and the rep. said "happens all the time. No big deal." To my knowledge, no action was taken with the authorities.

fdt - 12-21-2008 at 06:43 PM

Bajahowodd;
While I'm sorry you whent thru this bad experience, I am glad to hear that you are getting a response from the Rey Sol and hopefuly it does not discurrage youre future visits to Baja California.
BTW would you like to help the toy drive :saint:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=35415

Bajahowodd - 12-21-2008 at 08:54 PM

Fernando-
No way. Been traveling there since 1985. Must say, however, kinda thought I 'd get an offer of a free dinner!! lol

fdt - 12-21-2008 at 10:37 PM

Hey, free tamales and Rosca de reyes on Jan 4th. Got Toys?

Bajahowodd - 12-24-2008 at 06:06 PM

Just wanted to make certain everyone knows that Sr. Bitterlin, owner of El Rey Sol has been very gracious during this matter. He has turned over the information about the ID of the perpetrator to the local authorities. He also researched the receipts and sent copies to me. By the way, the woman caught in Nordstrom in Orange County pled guilty.

fdt - 12-24-2008 at 06:42 PM

Great, Merry Christmas.

Bajahowodd - 1-10-2009 at 12:25 PM

Thought you might get a chuckle out of this. Have completed forms with the card issuer. Got greater detail. The Ensenada woman was using a clone credit card that actually had my name on it. My name is Howard- don't think anyone could confuse that as female. According to the records, she was able to purchase two separate gift cards at Westminster Mall for $1500 apiece. Later, she goes to Nordstrom and tries to make a $40 purchase. That's where she gets caught by security and I get a phone call. Crazy how she can get away with $3,000 without anyone blinking an eye, but gets caught over $40.