Thai Immigration Warns of Rise in In-Flight Credit Card Theft

My wallet, passport and phone are always back in my pockets after security.. I never leave things like that in the overhead locker.

3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

My wallet, passport and phone are always back in my pockets after security.. I never leave things like that in the overhead locker.

Agreed.

It's hard to imagine why a tiny credit card is kept out of sight and not in the owners pocket, wallet or purse.

Everyone should be aware that valuable things must be on your body or pocket. Not in bag in the overhead compartment. Don't make it easy for the criminals

There is a possibility that some of these cases are a conspiracy to defraud the credit card companies by people known to each other.

"Hey Jon, remove my credit card from the side pocket of my bag, make a high price purchase, i will not report it until you are out of the airport and we can split the booty"

Put your bag kitty corner across from you. Lock your cards.

Never leave credit cards in luggage. Plus, put a lock on your overhead luggage.

more severe punishment for the perps might help,, like asking them to leave the plane at 40,000 ft

Why is this an issue for Thai immigration, and how are they able to determine that the majority of these thefts are on regional flights?

Even if your credit cards are secure on your person, due to the very close proximity of fellow passengers, maybe it's time to invest in an RFID blocker card?

Since the modus operandi is for scam transactions to take place shortly after landing and being back on a mobile network, contactless skimming of card data during a flight seems a more logical and less obvious method than pilfering overhead bags.

47 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Why is this an issue for Thai immigration, and how are they able to determine that the majority of these thefts are on regional flights?

Even if your credit cards are secure on your person, due to the very close proximity of fellow passengers, maybe it's time to invest in an RFID blocker card?

Since the modus operandi is for scam transactions to take place shortly after landing and being back on a mobile network, contactless skimming of card data during a flight seems a more logical and less obvious method than pilfering overhead bags.

I keep my cards in a small rfid blocking wallet. Plus I have disabled the tap function on my cc and debit card.

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

Why is this an issue for Thai immigration, and how are they able to determine that the majority of these thefts are on regional flights?

This crime is almost always carried out by Chinese gangs. Thais on these flights (from, say, Hong Kong) are unaware of this type of stealing and, as a result, end up as the victim.

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Emphasis will be placed on the role of cabin crews in detecting and discouraging suspicious activities during flights.

And what about suspicious activities by members of the crew? The article isn't clear if the concern is stealing the physical card vs the account information. If you're buying something in-flight do the FAs take plastic?

Personally I keep away from the whole digital wallet thing. And debit cards.

I haven't been keeping up with the news in Malaysia lately, but while living there nearly every week there would be something in the newspaper/news sites about Chinese nationals being caught with a briefcase full of credits cards. I have wondered if it was always the same briefcase and cards, continuously used as bait. And down there criminal punishment can include an actual as_ whoopin'.

10 hours ago, WHansen said:

There is a possibility that some of these cases are a conspiracy to defraud the credit card companies by people known to each other.

"Hey Jon, remove my credit card from the side pocket of my bag, make a high price purchase, i will not report it until you are out of the airport and we can split the booty"

Must admit that crossed my mind too. I wonder - do airplanes have CCTV of passenger cabin? Of course, it would be hard to make out the passengers with lights off and shades down. But yes, it would be an easy scam wouldn't it? The fact it has been reported so much lately makes me think you are right about this. Wonder if the cops suspect the same?

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Why is this an issue for Thai immigration, and how are they able to determine that the majority of these thefts are on regional flights?

Even if your credit cards are secure on your person, due to the very close proximity of fellow passengers, maybe it's time to invest in an RFID blocker card?

Since the modus operandi is for scam transactions to take place shortly after landing and being back on a mobile network, contactless skimming of card data during a flight seems a more logical and less obvious method than pilfering overhead bags.

All my cards are kept in RFID blocking sleeves. It's a no-brainer. It would be easy to put a card reader in a bag and mingle with, say, SkyTrain passengers, taking small payments from every card within range.

10 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Why is this an issue for Thai immigration, and how are they able to determine that the majority of these thefts are on regional flights?

Even if your credit cards are secure on your person, due to the very close proximity of fellow passengers, maybe it's time to invest in an RFID blocker card?

Since the modus operandi is for scam transactions to take place shortly after landing and being back on a mobile network, contactless skimming of card data during a flight seems a more logical and less obvious method than pilfering overhead bags.

It doesn’t say regional.

It says international

3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Must admit that crossed my mind too. I wonder - do airplanes have CCTV of passenger cabin? Of course, it would be hard to make out the passengers with lights off and shades down. But yes, it would be an easy scam wouldn't it? The fact it has been reported so much lately makes me think you are right about this. Wonder if the cops suspect the same?

Most CCTV cameras have B&W infrared night vision

I believe what we have here is electronic theft of card information. Has the author of this "report" ever been on a plane??? Becuase, I have never seen gangs roaming the aisles, opening up comparments and bags, and ... call me crazy ... who keeps their credit card in luggage instead of a purse / wallet??? Lastly, are we to believe thieves book expensive flights with a very "easy to trace" system of passports / identification required to board the flight?? How about this for a theory. There are card skimmers on the ATMS at airports in the international portion and work when people take out cash for the trip.

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The rise of a cashless society, while convenient, presents new risks that must be managed through both user prudence and financial safeguards.

All the more reason to resist the ever encroaching digital panopticon

they will use this as an excuse for ever more stringent checks and restrictions...for your own safety of course 🤣

16 hours ago, WHansen said:

"Hey Jon, remove my credit card from the side pocket of my bag, make a high price purchase, i will not report it until you are out of the airport and we can split the booty"

Pointless and pointlessly risky - why not just give it to him before the flight?

13 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Why is this an issue for Thai immigration, and how are they able to determine that the majority of these thefts are on regional flights?

Even if your credit cards are secure on your person, due to the very close proximity of fellow passengers, maybe it's time to invest in an RFID blocker card?

Since the modus operandi is for scam transactions to take place shortly after landing and being back on a mobile network, contactless skimming of card data during a flight seems a more logical and less obvious method than pilfering overhead bags.

Usually the skimming of the card (at ATM machines) is accompanied by little cameras recording your password.

So, what you are saying is that just the information on your card is enough to do what exactly, make purchases, withdraw money from your account...?

16 hours ago, WHansen said:

There is a possibility that some of these cases are a conspiracy to defraud the credit card companies by people known to each other.

"Hey Jon, remove my credit card from the side pocket of my bag, make a high price purchase, i will not report it until you are out of the airport and we can split the booty"

I never thought of that. Very clever. So how much have you and Jon ripped off from the banks so far?

This is nothing to do with skimming. This is nothing to do with flight crew "stealing" card details.

It is Chinese gangs who send minions on flights to rifle through bags in overhead lockers and steal cash, credit cards and valuables.

The Chinese often carry large amounts of cash. This type of thieving comes from China. The loot is then passed off quickly on arrival or possibly to an accomplice on the plane.

1 hour ago, thecyclist said:

Usually the skimming of the card (at ATM machines) is accompanied by little cameras recording your password.

So, what you are saying is that just the information on your card is enough to do what exactly, make purchases, withdraw money from your account...?

Skimming has moved beyond the ATM. Once a chip & PIN credit card is enabled for tap-and-go payments at POS (point of sale) scanners, there's no need for the PIN to be entered unless it exceeds the limit. The previous UK limit of £100/transaction has been replaced by a limit determined by the card issuer that's based on the account owner's usage and credit rating. Someone with good credit history may have a higher limit than the person with low or poor credit but be unaware of what that limit is. Most card/banking apps allow the account holder to reduce the limit if they think it's too high.

5 hours ago, Free the 115 said:

It doesn’t say regional.

It says international

It says "short international" flights. Short international flights are regional, ie. they are within the same region of southeast Asia. Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Manila and Singapore are examples of regional or "short international" flights.

16 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Skimming has moved beyond the ATM. Once a chip & PIN credit card is enabled for tap-and-go payments at POS (point of sale) scanners, there's no need for the PIN to be entered unless it exceeds the limit. The previous UK limit of £100/transaction has been replaced by a limit determined by the card issuer that's based on the account owner's usage and credit rating. Someone with good credit history may have a higher limit than the person with low or poor credit but be unaware of what that limit is. Most card/banking apps allow the account holder to reduce the limit if they think it's too high.

I only have two debit cards, a Thai and a Vietnamese one. Does the same hold for debit cards?

I'm far more concerned about my $5k Mac being stolen with all my data on it.

23 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

My wallet, passport and phone are always back in my pockets after security.. I never leave things like that in the overhead locker.

23 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

My wallet, passport and phone are always back in my pockets after security.. I never leave things like that in the overhead locker.

23 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

My wallet, passport and phone are always back in my pockets after security.. I never leave things like that in the overhead locker.

I do exactly the same and always in the same back pocket and I only buy trousers with a button on that pocket. Always get the CC back in my wallet and back in my pocket within 2 or 3 seconds of use and I always insist on having my cc in my sights from the moment I hand it over to the shop staff and until it's returned into my wallet and back into my pocket.

I had a run in with a Thai family member on this when I was with several Thai family members (including our loud mouth know all mid aged fat lady boy).

We looked at 2 sets of shoes shoes for my two Thai grandchildreen and one pair of black business shoes for me. We found what we wanted.

I asked for the total bill. Shop assistant asked poitely 'cash or credit card?' I indicated cc.

Big mouth loud lady boy intervened saying 'cannot use foreigner credit cards'. Shop assistant said 'that's not a problem this is a VISA card issued by a very big professional Thai bank (BBL) and I can accept it'

Lady boy went on another loud tyraid about foreigners cheating thai companies / people. My Thai adult son (father of the 2 kids we were buying shoes for) intervened and told the lady boy to 'SHUT UP' and pushed LB away from the family and gathered public rubber neckers.

I then politety told the shop assistand 'please bring your CC processing machine here beacuse I don't let my CC out of my sight.

Shop assistante not fazed, quickly brought the machine to where we were all gathered and politely asked 'and more shoes today?'

Lady boy then loudly accussed me of being very impoite to a Thai person, the shop assistant who was shocked and quickly responded 'that's not true.'

I gave my son my thai issued ATM card, and asked him to quickly get 500Baht from the machine immediately outside the shoe shop (in very large CM mall).

Lady boy family member tried to intervene again insisting that it's Thai law that a family member must watch the ATM card owner press the 6 buttons for the pin number. Lady boy then grabbed the pen from my shirt pocket and told the shoe shop boy 'I will give you the 6 numbers later in case you are being cheated'. I might add this is typical of the ignorant / incorrect bull<deleted> the lady boy is full of.

Shoe shop assistant asked his manager to come. I quietly asked the shop assistant and his manger to confirm that XXXBaht was the correct total. I did that, and my son gave lady boy 100Baht and told him to take the 2 kids to the ice cream shop nearby and buy them ice ceams.

Meanwhile I paid cash for all the shoes, all done, recept received from the polite shop assistant. My son then quickly spoke to the shop manager saying that the young shop assistant had been polite and focused. Son also asked the shop assistant 'was my father impolite to you? Quite horrified response 'NO'.

My son looked for a quiet moment to slip a 200Baht tip into the shop assistant;s pocket.

Lady boy, as usual, took the kids to a different food shop and we had to search the shopping centre to find them.

Lady boy later taken to the bus terminal to go back to BKK and son told him 'never come back to the family in CM.'

5 hours ago, JustinTyme said:

I believe what we have here is electronic theft of card information. Has the author of this "report" ever been on a plane??? Becuase, I have never seen gangs roaming the aisles, opening up comparments and bags, and ... call me crazy ... who keeps their credit card in luggage instead of a purse / wallet??? Lastly, are we to believe thieves book expensive flights with a very "easy to trace" system of passports / identification required to board the flight?? How about this for a theory. There are card skimmers on the ATMS at airports in the international portion and work when people take out cash for the trip.

Agreed. The stealing from overhead lockers thing seems a stretch, unless it’s two people in cahoots as mentioned by another poster.

Skimming at an atm or some other point of sale at the departing airport makes sense, except the article mentions that fraudulent purchases are made soon after landing.

So proximity scanning while on board or the whole in cahoots thing seems more likely to me.

I’m not a technical person so don’t know how easy it is to scan a card in someone’s wallet.

If it’s two people in cahoots, expect an explosion in instances now that it’s being given publicity. Tag teams will abound.

52 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I do exactly the same and always in the same back pocket and I only buy trousers with a button on that pocket. Always get the CC back in my wallet and back in my pocket within 2 or 3 seconds of use and I always insist on having my cc in my sights from the moment I hand it over to the shop staff and until it's returned into my wallet and back into my pocket.

I had a run in with a Thai family member on this when I was with several Thai family members (including our loud mouth know all mid aged fat lady boy).

We looked at 2 sets of shoes shoes for my two Thai grandchildreen and one pair of black business shoes for me. We found what we wanted.

I asked for the total bill. Shop assistant asked poitely 'cash or credit card?' I indicated cc.

Big mouth loud lady boy intervened saying 'cannot use foreigner credit cards'. Shop assistant said 'that's not a problem this is a VISA card issued by a very big professional Thai bank (BBL) and I can accept it'

Lady boy went on another loud tyraid about foreigners cheating thai companies / people. My Thai adult son (father of the 2 kids we were buying shoes for) intervened and told the lady boy to 'SHUT UP' and pushed LB away from the family and gathered public rubber neckers.

I then politety told the shop assistand 'please bring your CC processing machine here beacuse I don't let my CC out of my sight.

Shop assistante not fazed, quickly brought the machine to where we were all gathered and politely asked 'and more shoes today?'

Lady boy then loudly accussed me of being very impoite to a Thai person, the shop assistant who was shocked and quickly responded 'that's not true.'

I gave my son my thai issued ATM card, and asked him to quickly get 500Baht from the machine immediately outside the shoe shop (in very large CM mall).

Lady boy family member tried to intervene again insisting that it's Thai law that a family member must watch the ATM card owner press the 6 buttons for the pin number. Lady boy then grabbed the pen from my shirt pocket and told the shoe shop boy 'I will give you the 6 numbers later in case you are being cheated'. I might add this is typical of the ignorant / incorrect bull<deleted> the lady boy is full of.

Shoe shop assistant asked his manager to come. I quietly asked the shop assistant and his manger to confirm that XXXBaht was the correct total. I did that, and my son gave lady boy 100Baht and told him to take the 2 kids to the ice cream shop nearby and buy them ice ceams.

Meanwhile I paid cash for all the shoes, all done, recept received from the polite shop assistant. My son then quickly spoke to the shop manager saying that the young shop assistant had been polite and focused. Son also asked the shop assistant 'was my father impolite to you? Quite horrified response 'NO'.

My son looked for a quiet moment to slip a 200Baht tip into the shop assistant;s pocket.

Lady boy, as usual, took the kids to a different food shop and we had to search the shopping centre to find them.

Lady boy later taken to the bus terminal to go back to BKK and son told him 'never come back to the family in CM.'

"Fear and Loathing in Chiang Mai".... coming to a shopping mall near you soon.

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

Agreed. The stealing from overhead lockers thing seems a stretch, unless it’s two people in cahoots as mentioned by another poster.

Skimming at an atm or some other point of sale at the departing airport makes sense, except the article mentions that fraudulent purchases are made soon after landing.

So proximity scanning while on board or the whole in cahoots thing seems more likely to me.

I’m not a technical person so don’t know how easy it is to scan a card in someone’s wallet.

If it’s two people in cahoots, expect an explosion in instances now that it’s being given publicity. Tag teams will abound.

Unless, the thieves are smart enough to know the person with the compromised card is (1) now far from the scene of the crime. (2) Much more difficult to contact the card company and say "impossible, I was on a flight (3) clever enough to know that would throw "the authorities" off the track. Example: Look at the fact that the police are warning about people stealing physical cards, instead of the DATA. --- Card skimming is epidemic and becoming more common every day. BTW, since you seem interested in safe guarding your cash, here is some advice. (1) When you use your phone to acess your money, switch it from Wi-Fi to your phone data plan. It is MUCH harder to hack the TRUE network than a local wi-fi. (2) After you finish your transaction and close the bank app, immediately go to "restart" on your phone t beark all connections. It takes less tan a minute for your phone to cycle. (3) Turn the data plan off, and go back to Wi-Fi ...

What good is being a HiSo if you aren't signaling to everyone else at the gate waiting for the flight you are a HiSo? Expensive watches, duty free, designer bags etc. I've never seen a report of RFID scanning being responsible for CC thefts on a flight. Hundreds of documented cases of physical theft by these organized gangs that target HiSo and business traveler-heavy routes.

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/news/article/223440/169-theft-cases-reported-on-flights-to-HK-as-of-Oct

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/organised-crime-groups-behind-in-flight-theft-cases-singapore-police-force