BajaNomad

Reported ATM theft in San Jose

ckiefer - 11-9-2010 at 09:36 PM

There's information traveling around about fraudulent ATM transactions in San Jose del Cabo at Mega and Soriana. Any nomads in San Jose hear of this?

Baja Western Onion

ATM Theft (Courtesy Baja Pony Express) - I wanted to write and let you know of a problem that has hit a number of people in the San Jose area. Someone or a group of people are stealing your ATM card information along with your pin number when you use the ATM machine at Mega and Soriana. It is believed that they are either slipping a devise into the card slot to capture all information or attaching a device to the side of the machine.

Just this week our card information was captured at Soriana’s ATM and within two days they were able to steal $4,000 from our account in California. I have talked with two other people; one losing $1,000 and the other thousands within one day after using the ATM at Mega. While our banks may replace the funds to our accounts, it is not without having to complete a lot of paper work and stress. In all cases, none of the banks can explain why the banks were not alerted to the increased activity of the cards (as many as 10 per day) or why transactions were allowed over the daily bank limit.

It has been recommended that we only use the ATM machines at the bank as they monitor their machines throughout the day to prevent any theft. Susie ancestor@jps.net -

ckiefer - 11-10-2010 at 08:49 AM

Another ATM theft reported this a.m. By my neighbor from an ATM machine near subway and dominos pizza. She used her Bancomer card . All funds depleted.....

Be careful....

The Sculpin - 11-10-2010 at 09:02 AM

This has been all over Facebook. Kids accounts are getting depleted all over the place!

El Jefe - 11-10-2010 at 09:11 AM

This from some very good friends and full time residents here near San Jose del Cabo. The word is as said above, use the banks not the store ATMs.

"Hi to all,
Today started out to be such a nice day until I went on line to check on our US bank account. Yikes no money!!!! & why are there overdraft charges.
Beware!!! Somehow our ATM Debit card was compromised at possibly an ATM machine at Mega Super Market or Costco . The last withdrawal we made was at the ATM at Costco . There is a possibility that this could be happening at Sorianos but we have not been there in sometime to withdraw from an ATM . We found out today that others have had a similar problem with moneys being taken out of their accounts. We understand this can happen anywhere but just wanted to let you all know that there may be a possible scam at one of these stores. The money we lost was withdrawn in & around Monterrey MX sometimes twice a day.
Big lesson for us.!!!! We will now check our bank account everyday. Guess we just had that lazy Baja feeling & didn't keep on top of it."

BajaBlanca - 11-10-2010 at 09:39 AM

just for everyone's info, we had our credit card info stolen and used after we booked our tickets to Europe online last year. and the moola was used to bail someone out of jail in England. Big hassle is right.

Great that the banks here control their ATMs and we learned our lesson - our acct is checked at least once a day. Every day. Can't be too safe. the shock and the bother is a nightmare :fire::fire::fire:

rob - 11-10-2010 at 09:49 AM

Last year my Bancomer debit card was hit for $8000USD - withdrawals always late at night and for odd amounts - fortunately the brains of the family discovered it and we cancelled the card.

With the help of Blanca at Bancomer Palacio and some gentle prodding from CONDUSEF, the bank repaid all funds reasonably promptly.

I know EXACTLY where it happened (card new - first use) and who cloned the card - Office Max in La Paz and a young male cajero. The bank appeared totally disinterested in this information.

The way he did it was simple - "Sorry, this reader is not working - I'll just be a moment", and off he went while I stood there fat, dumb and happy.

DO NOT LET THE CARD OUT OF YOUR HAND! OR AT LEAST DIRECT SIGHT.

bajajudy - 11-10-2010 at 12:52 PM

Just received this email:

The attacks on debit cards is a much bigger problem than originally thought, and Trina Brown, the US consulate has made an appointment with the DA. He would like to recieve as many complaints as possible, so that he can get the authorization to investigate.

He normally works in Cabo San Lucas, but as most of the complaints that we know about are from people in San Jose, he will go to the office there to make it easier. His office is in the big building near the airport that was originally meant to be a jail.

The appointment is set for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, and he would like as many people as possible to bring their information. Many have asked what they can do to stop this, but without your information, they can do absolutely nothing. We need to do whatever we can to stop this sort of evasive crime. Bring a copy of your ID and also a copy of your bank statement to show the bogus charges. If you can't make the meeting, send this information with someone else who is going, or you can drop it off at Back-to-the-Rack on Monday and we'll make sure that it gets there.

Forward this email to anyone you know who has been a victim and if you have any questions about the meeting, email Trina Brown at usconsultcabo@yahoo.com.

Hook - 11-10-2010 at 03:43 PM

I'm really wondering if any of these frauds are involving persons using US ATM cards at Mexican bank ATMs.

We recently had the unfortunate experience of a Santander ATM at a retail outlet freezing during a transaction using a B of A ATM card. The retailer eventually pulled the plug on the machine and it spit out our card, but did not give us a receipt. We had no idea if the transaction went through...........until we got home and saw that it had. We received no cash.

After contacting B of A, they agreed to credit our account pending an investigation with Santander. After about a month, B of A informed us that Santander says the cash WAS disbursed, according to their records.

At this point, B of A says it is a closed case as they can only go by what Santander says. We're out the cash.

Be forewarned about the whole B of A/Santander relationship, now that B of A no longer owns a piece of Santander.

We will not be using any Santander ATM that is not at a branch and we wont use one unless it is during business hours when we can immediately point out the malfunction.

bajajudy - 11-10-2010 at 03:50 PM

Hook
The instances that I have first hand info on happened at Mega and Soriana and they were both cards from US banks. Since this started, I will only use the atm's in my bank.
BUT the most important thing you can do is to check your account every day since there are limits on daily withdrawals.

Woooosh - 11-10-2010 at 03:59 PM

These skimming devices are common and portable. NOB there have been many news stories of what to watch out for. These crooks put a plastic sleeve over a real machine and capture your card swipe and your PIN code by way of hidden camera. They even get the correct logos placed on them. Even side by side they are hard to tell apart from the real ones. If your regular ATM machine looks new or different somehow- don't use it.

FoxNews video on ATM Skimming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoN6dUI-Me8

bajajudy - 11-10-2010 at 07:03 PM

SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just found out that this meeting was last monday.

email

Trina Brown

usconsultcabo@yahoo.com

for more information

The DA is still gathering information about all these cases. She can get you in touch with him.

monoloco - 11-10-2010 at 07:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rob
Last year my Bancomer debit card was hit for $8000USD - withdrawals always late at night and for odd amounts - fortunately the brains of the family discovered it and we cancelled the card.

With the help of Blanca at Bancomer Palacio and some gentle prodding from CONDUSEF, the bank repaid all funds reasonably promptly.

I know EXACTLY where it happened (card new - first use) and who cloned the card - Office Max in La Paz and a young male cajero. The bank appeared totally disinterested in this information.

The way he did it was simple - "Sorry, this reader is not working - I'll just be a moment", and off he went while I stood there fat, dumb and happy.

DO NOT LET THE CARD OUT OF YOUR HAND! OR AT LEAST DIRECT SIGHT.
We had the same thing happen to us at the Arco station in Jamul Ca., really nice lady said the card reader wasn't working and took our card into the back, next thing we knew someone was using our card at Walmart and Starbucks in Hemet. Luckily, we check our accounts often and noticed right away.

woody with a view - 11-10-2010 at 08:06 PM

so, instead of using my card to get pesos dispensed at the HSBC in san quintin, i guess costco will be getting my business from now on. better plan WAAAAY ahead, folks!

Woooosh - 11-11-2010 at 11:29 PM

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/09/bank-returns-...

mtgoat666 - 11-12-2010 at 12:22 AM

Why do people use ATM cards for retail transactions? Don't people know about these ATM thefts by stores? Use credit cards in stores, and use ATMs only in bank machines.

shari - 11-12-2010 at 06:24 AM

I have a neat option on my Bancomer debit card. It automatically sends a message to my cell phone when a withdrawl is made with the card...this would work to alert you to this type of crime...it's a free service I think.

peek a boo

mcfez - 11-12-2010 at 08:17 AM

Reading about this ATM rip.....it reminder me of a warning that I got from a friend in SF....dont use the ATM machine at so and so.

So today I wondered ...how the hell do these boneheads get the info. It seems a little more that having a clerk steal the data (and that happens too). Here's what I found on the net. It "blew me wig off" when I read about the "false security camera"!

http://creditidentitysafe.com/idtheft/atm-id-theft-how-can-y...

And I thought I was street wise......