BajaNomad

Schwab Visa/HSBC

twogringos - 11-9-2016 at 02:57 PM

Used my Schwab card at a few bank ATMs (I only use in-bank ATMs) on the way down Baja. Three weeks later in La Paz the card was rejected in several banks. When I called Schwab they said that Visa put a hold on the card because it had been compromised. No funds we lost from my account, and the Schwab agent said, though she did not have all of the info, it was most likely compromised at the HSBC I used in Ensenada (near Wal-Mart). She recommended to always avoid HSBC ATMs. A new card is on the way by Fedex.

willardguy - 11-9-2016 at 03:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by twogringos  
Used my Schwab card at a few bank ATMs (I only use in-bank ATMs) on the way down Baja. Three weeks later in La Paz the card was rejected in several banks. When I called Schwab they said that Visa put a hold on the card because it had been compromised. No funds we lost from my account, and the Schwab agent said, though she did not have all of the info, it was most likely compromised at the HSBC I used in Ensenada (near Wal-Mart). She recommended to always avoid HSBC ATMs. A new card is on the way by Fedex.


good to know, gracias!:yes:

bajagrouper - 11-9-2016 at 05:10 PM

Did you alert VISA of your travel plans to Mexico?

pacsur - 11-9-2016 at 05:50 PM

Personal opinion is don't blame one particular bank for this one, most likely employees, that's why it doesn't matter if you use a banks in house money machine or not.
I think it was 2 years ago a part time homeowner here went to the local Bancomer in San Jose del Cabo, it was their personal bank down here also, they used the machine 1 time, they left a month later and normally do not check their bank account information very often. I think 4 months later they we're contacted by their US banking institution asking how much longer they would be in Mexico, they then found out they had over $30,000 usd drained from their account, sometimes 5 withdraws a day, bottom line it was a manager and a couple of employees working together draining other accounts as well, i was told the bank reimbursed the neighbors and everything was kept hush, hush, no police involved.

mrfatboy - 11-9-2016 at 07:04 PM

I noticed Schwab is a little trigger happy shutting down accountsif you enter the wrong password. I gave them my travel plans the day before. Used ATM at TJ airport. Wife used wrong password and blocked her. My phone rang no more than 60 seconds later to verify it was us. I rather have paranoid about my money than not.

Also, you can have multiple cards with different account numbers that are linked to same account. Very smart just in case one card gets lost or compromised you still have the other. You can block them separately.

willardguy - 11-9-2016 at 07:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacsur  
Personal opinion is don't blame one particular bank for this one, most likely employees, that's why it doesn't matter if you use a banks in house money machine or not.
I think it was 2 years ago a part time homeowner here went to the local Bancomer in San Jose del Cabo, it was their personal bank down here also, they used the machine 1 time, they left a month later and normally do not check their bank account information very often. I think 4 months later they we're contacted by their US banking institution asking how much longer they would be in Mexico, they then found out they had over $30,000 usd drained from their account, sometimes 5 withdraws a day, bottom line it was a manager and a couple of employees working together draining other accounts as well, i was told the bank reimbursed the neighbors and everything was kept hush, hush, no police involved.



"I think 4 months later they we're contacted by their US banking institution asking how much longer they would be in Mexico, they then found out they had over $30,000 usd drained from their account, sometimes 5 withdraws a day"
that wouldn't be my bank any longer! :no:

BornFisher - 11-9-2016 at 07:26 PM

Quote: Originally posted by twogringos  
Used my Schwab card at a few bank ATMs (I only use in-bank ATMs) on the way down Baja. Three weeks later in La Paz the card was rejected in several banks. When I called Schwab they said that Visa put a hold on the card because it had been compromised. No funds we lost from my account, and the Schwab agent said, though she did not have all of the info, it was most likely compromised at the HSBC I used in Ensenada (near Wal-Mart). She recommended to always avoid HSBC ATMs. A new card is on the way by Fedex.


I wonder how Visa knew the card had been compromised.