Don't fall victim to those nasty foreign skimmers

 

File photo

 

Foreigners have once again been blamed for the continuing problem of skimming.

 

Channel 7 reported on the methods used by the gangs and the measures people can use to protect their money and their property from theft.

 

The advice comes as it was reported that three Ukrainian skimmers had bought two houses worth 18 million baht in Phuket on the proceeds of crime. One of those has been arrested in Krabi.

 

They showed the many ways that thieves target ATM machines with such things as card readers, false number pads, little green cup add- ons to the place where you put your card in. Even cameras.

 

They spoke of hand held skimmers used in businesses like restaurants, gas stations and entertainment venues to read card details. Sometimes unscrupulous banks employees even got in on the act posing as assistance or checkers at ATM machines but really up to no good.

 

Another method was using stolen or fraudulently obtained documents to apply for cards to access accounts.

 

Yet another was using the details on the ATM slips for fraudulent activity.

 

Methods to protect yourself were said to be using difficult passwords, not noting down passwords and changing them every three months at least.

 

Use busy ATMs and check that they have not been tampered with. Cover your hand when pressing your number.

 

Avoid using cars at suspicious businesses like gas stations and entertainment venues. Make sure that employees can be seen when handling your card.

 

Source: CH7

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-06-12

Thanks Ill make sure I only give my  money to the Thai  skimmers

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Avoid using cars at suspicious businesses like gas stations

Oh  bugger, do they have another place I can fill the car up with gas/petrol???? Thats a  real downer

1 hour ago, kannot said:

Oh  bugger, do they have another place I can fill the car up with gas/petrol???? Thats a  real downer

Try those local shops on the side of the road, with the fuel in the whisky bottles at 20 Baht a bottle. You might need a few hundred bottles though.

 

"Foreigners"?

What about Thai criminal?

The story started with foreign scammers and ended with home grown Thai bank entertainment and petrol workers. 

Skimmer and Scammer (LLP). Sounds like a good name for a legal firm.

Seems like we're going to be in for another round of 'Thais don't steal - Thais are wondrous"

 

I can hardly wait. Delusional is wonderful.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Foreigners have once again been blamed for the continuing problem of skimming.

Those damn foreigners.......

i looked up an article somewhere about type's of skimmers,they had page's and pages of photo's, you would have to be an expert to know if one was in place or not,luckily i live in a non touristic area,this sort of thing seems more prevelant in tourist area's. One definate no-no is if buying anything in a shop never let them take the card out of your sight.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

deleted

Edited June 12, 20188 yr by Bluespunk

What a couple of skimmers look like. Hard to tell the difference.

Have seen so many reports over the years about the cashless society and money will be a thing of the past. Well, it seems money is the safest way to do business.  People are too lazy to go in the bank and withdraw money cos it takes a few minutes longer !  I will always use cash. Even when I go on holiday I take cash.

Easiest way to protect your card from being skimmed- Insert card into the machine. Before you doing anything else, cancel the transaction. If the card is returned to you, the machine has most probably not been tampered with.Re-insert the card and continue your transaction...

6 hours ago, Anak Nakal said:

"Foreigners"?

What about Thai criminal?

Yes I am quite sure there a few Thai skimmers - but throughout Europe and possibly here also the Eastern European gangs seem to have the expertise and almost a monopoly of this activity. 

5 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

Those damn foreigners.......

Thais must realise by now - they would better off if they didn’t admit foreigners!!! ohh…..just a minute!!!!

 

Another point  - Im trying to buy a condo and cant use money Ive saved over five years to do so - i have to take it out and back in again and pay fees of 10000 baht to do so - how come the Ukranian criminals can move money in and out so easily to buy 18 million baht houses in Phuket?

6 hours ago, KiwiKiwi said:

Seems like we're going to be in for another round of 'Thais don't steal - Thais are wondrous"

 

I can hardly wait. Delusional is wonderful.

If you love Delusional then you are in the right place on TFV. Enjoy ? 

3 hours ago, dragons70 said:

Easiest way to protect your card from being skimmed- Insert card into the machine. Before you doing anything else, cancel the transaction. If the card is returned to you, the machine has most probably not been tampered with.Re-insert the card and continue your transaction...

good idea 

Quote

Don't fall victim to those nasty foreign skimmers

Yes, quite, fall victim to the nasty Thai skimmers instead as it's a reserved profession.

3 hours ago, dragons70 said:

Easiest way to protect your card from being skimmed- Insert card into the machine. Before you doing anything else, cancel the transaction. If the card is returned to you, the machine has most probably not been tampered with.Re-insert the card and continue your transaction...

Could you explain the reasoning behind that?

 

52 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

If you love Delusional then you are in the right place on TFV. Enjoy ? 

True enough.

This is global. My ex wife in UK stopped at a pawnbrokers to get some foreign currency, great rate, as well as scanning her card they must have recorded CVV, within 24 hrs two unauthorized transactions, luckily bank picked them up.

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Ukrainian skimmers had bought two houses worth 18 million baht in Phuket on the proceeds of crime. 

I thought falangs could only own condos.

 

Avoid using cars at suspicious businesses like gas stations and entertainment venues.

 

OP; care to expand on this genius thinking?

 

why are gas stations and entertainment places suspicious?

 

ok, i should avoid using gas stations, where do you suggest i buy gas for my car?

 

entertainment venues; so i should avoid going to the cinema? and others who drink should avoid going to bars?

 

maybe engage brain before typing... something like; dont avoid these places but if in doubt carry and use cash?

9 hours ago, dragons70 said:

Easiest way to protect your card from being skimmed- Insert card into the machine. Before you doing anything else, cancel the transaction. If the card is returned to you, the machine has most probably not been tampered with.Re-insert the card and continue your transaction...

No, that is not how skimming works.

I too am mystified about this post. Why does the poster think doing this will protect the customer from skimming?