A Letter To Pattaya Mail Regarding Atm Scams........

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Mail: Mailbag : June 1st Edition

Stick it to the ATM crooks

Dear Editor:

Three or four times a year we have the requisite story of some poor sod who gets his bank account emptied after using his ATM card here in Pattaya.

It can be prevented and if my instructions are followed, it has a 100 percent cure. Here is what you do:

1. Go to any foreigner and online friendly bank (Kasikorn and Ayudha) and open two savings accounts.

2. One savings account will have an ATM card attached and make sure the 2nd account does not.

3. Get online access for both accounts under the same username - This Is Important!

4. Keep no more and no less than 1000 baht in the ATM account. Transfer from the account with no ATM access to the account with ATM card as you need it.

Never leave more in the ATM account than you are willing to lose.

Make sure you explain to the bank what you want so they don’t attach the ATM to both accounts. If one of our Pattaya crooks steals or clones your card, they will only be able to touch what is in one account and you won’t leave much money there.

The other account is your castle - it can only have money withdrawn at the teller or transferred online.

So long as you don’t use public internet shops to access your online accounts, this scheme is foolproof.

Kasikorn was the easiest to open the accounts and get both online. Ayudha Bank was ok but it required a few trips to the bank with papers to get the secondary account attached to the ATM account.

Bangkok Bank was the most uncooperative and when they finally took my paperwork for online access (demanded work permit or residence) they got it wrong.

Stick it to the crooks by safeguarding your baht. Editor, this should be reprinted at least every month.

Jeff Rosner

Jomtien Thani

[naka]

Makes sense.

Naka.

[tropo]

What a load of nonsense. It's total paranoia.

Just take care which machines you use, and keep an eye out for strange devices at the card entry slot. Machines in shopping malls are the best way to go.

[jeffrosner]

What a load of nonsense. It's total paranoia.

Just take care which machines you use, and keep an eye out for strange devices at the card entry slot. Machines in shopping malls are the best way to go.

Yeah, don't be smart or intelligent about it, just go about your routine without protecting yourself.

Great advice.

[tropo]

What a load of nonsense. It's total paranoia.

Just take care which machines you use, and keep an eye out for strange devices at the card entry slot. Machines in shopping malls are the best way to go.

Yeah, don't be smart or intelligent about it, just go about your routine without protecting yourself.

Great advice.

Did you read my reply? My advice was clearly for people to be selective over which ATMs to use and to observe the card slot. We know how they scan cards and a cursory examination of the ATM is all that is required to ensure safe withdrawals.

I stand by my original assessment. The advice presented regarding opening 2 accounts and keeping the ATM account empty to prevent ATM theft is an absurd measure that borders on extreme paranoia.

Edited June 4, 2007 by tropo

[Humphrey Bear]

Did you read my reply? My advice was clearly for people to be selective over which ATMs to use and to observe the card slot. We know how they scan cards and a cursory examination of the ATM is all that is required to ensure safe withdrawals.

I stand by my original assessment. The advice presented regarding opening 2 accounts and keeping the ATM account empty to prevent ATM theft is an absurd measure that borders on extreme paranoia.

But once in place it is a simple system to operate. OK, one needs computer access to run it, but with all the Internet shops around, it is easy to drop in one near your ATM outlet, transfer money, pull it out of the hole-in-the-wall and be happy.

What are the laws / rules on having multiple bank accounts as a farang in LOS? I run a few, different banks, no prob's yet.

[Naam]

OK, one needs computer access to run it, but with all the Internet shops around, it is easy to drop in one near your ATM outlet, transfer money...

[jeffrosner]

I see the sage advice of Mr. Rosner is pearls before swine.

Disregard it - Keep a few million baht in your accounts with ATM cards.

Why does Mr. Rosner bother?

[jeffrosner]

What a load of nonsense. It's total paranoia.

Just take care which machines you use, and keep an eye out for strange devices at the card entry slot. Machines in shopping malls are the best way to go.

Ah yes, Mr. Rosner has seen and verified the safety of those mall units - modems left out in the open - back of the machine open to all - yes, secure it is. We should all listen to the qualified advice of Tropo - don't use any of them unsafe machines attached to banks - no, use the one in malls.

[Naam]

I see the sage advice of Mr. Rosner is pearls before swine.

Mr. Rosner, Honourable Sir; not all people who don't suffer of paranoia can be classified as swines!

[jeffrosner]

I see the sage advice of Mr. Rosner is pearls before swine.

Mr. Rosner, Honourable Sir; not all people who don't suffer of paranoia can be classified as swines!

Mr. Rosner means no harm with that bit of speech, but Mr. Rosner also calls a spade a spade when he sees one.

Mr. Rosner also says "if the shoe fits."

Cheers Mate

[macone]

If you leave the country and find out that your account has been reduced due to ATM withdrawals by a criminal, you will definetly have a very diffulcult time trying to get your money back from your bank. You may eventually get your money back, but it could be a big problem if its a large amount of money. The ATM account for small money and a' No ATM account for large money is good advice.

Thailand has the title of SouthEast Asia Winner for the Highest Credit Card Fraud. Being very careful with your money is a top priority.

Problems with money is no fun.

[tropo]

I see the sage advice of Mr. Rosner is pearls before swine.

Disregard it - Keep a few million baht in your accounts with ATM cards.

Why does Mr. Rosner bother?

As you may or may not know, most banks limit the daily withdrawal via ATM cards. You'd have to be pretty dense to not notice some reduction of your "few million baht" before it was all gone.

The advice of Mr. Rosner is nothing but scare mongering and you sir are one very scared swine.

[jeffrosner]

I see the sage advice of Mr. Rosner is pearls before swine.

Disregard it - Keep a few million baht in your accounts with ATM cards.

Why does Mr. Rosner bother?

As you may or may not know, most banks limit the daily withdrawal via ATM cards. You'd have to be pretty dense to not notice some reduction of your "few million baht" before it was all gone.

The advice of Mr. Rosner is nothing but scare mongering and you sir are one very scared swine.

Mr. Rosner imparted sage advice. Try digging your heels in a bit deeper as Mr. Rosner is starting to enjoy watching you squirm.

[jeffrosner]

Mr. Rosner acknowledges the barnyard sounds but reminds his dear readers that many banks will not give online access just every Tom, Dick, and Pornchai so he wonders how one would know their funds are being depleted up to the minimum unless Tropo is in the habit of updating his passbooks twice a day.

Maybe he will tell us of his obsessive-compulsive habits.

[Thaddeus]

As you may or may not know, most banks limit the daily withdrawal via ATM cards. You'd have to be pretty dense to not notice some reduction of your "few million baht" before it was all gone.

The advice of Mr. Rosner is nothing but scare mongering and you sir are one very scared swine.

Yip.... a few million Baht may be pushing it but I use one of my cards once a month, so in 30 days 600,000 Baht could go missing before I am aware of it.... not nice.

I have found some of Mr Rosners posts in the past to be quite irritating, but on this topic he is absolutely correct.

(P.S. if you are a UK national, open a Nationwide Flex Account first, then get the e-savings account and put all your money in that one, it pays .5% interest over the national rate and can only be accessed on-line, transfer whatever sum you need to the Flex account when you need it and it will be available before you can get the card out of your wallet)

[jeffrosner]

Mr. Rosner may be abrasive, but he cuts through the grease with ease and is always factual.

[Thaddeus]

Mr. Rosner may be abrasive, but he cuts through the grease with ease and is always factual.

A bit like WD40 with an almanac

[Naam]

Mr. Rosner may be abrasive, but he cuts through the grease with ease and is always factual.

i'm glad never having met Mr. Rosner and do hope that i never have to deal with utmost boring and arrogant persons like him (i had my share already).

[jeffrosner]

Mr. Rosner may be abrasive, but he cuts through the grease with ease and is always factual.

i'm glad never having met Mr. Rosner and do hope that i never have to deal with utmost boring and arrogant persons like him (i had my share already).

Heal thyself Doctor - methinks thou protest too much.

[tropo]

Mr. Rosner acknowledges the barnyard sounds but reminds his dear readers that many banks will not give online access just every Tom, Dick, and Pornchai so he wonders how one would know their funds are being depleted up to the minimum unless Tropo is in the habit of updating his passbooks twice a day.

Maybe he will tell us of his obsessive-compulsive habits.

Although I don't, and never will subscribe to the level of paranoia that you and Mr. Rosner do, I do subscribe to easier methods like checking my accounts regularly online.

My advice is to ONLY open ATM accounts at banks which offer online banking. How difficult could that be? All the person needs to do is shop around for a bank which does offer online banking. Surely that shouldn't be too difficult in 2007.

Wake up and get with the times. It must be very difficult being you.

Edited June 10, 2007 by tropo

[jeffrosner]

Mr. Rosner acknowledges the barnyard sounds but reminds his dear readers that many banks will not give online access just every Tom, Dick, and Pornchai so he wonders how one would know their funds are being depleted up to the minimum unless Tropo is in the habit of updating his passbooks twice a day.

Maybe he will tell us of his obsessive-compulsive habits.

Although I don't, and never will subscribe to the level of paranoia that you and Mr. Rosner do, I do subscribe to easier methods like checking my accounts regularly online.

My advice is to ONLY open ATM accounts at banks which offer online banking. How difficult could that be? All the person needs to do is shop around for a bank which does offer online banking. Surely that shouldn't be too difficult in 2007.

Wake up and get with the times. It must be very difficult being you.

One hand clapping in an outhouse says Mr. Rosner.

[tropo]

One hand clapping in an outhouse says Mr. Rosner.

Barnyard, swine, outhouses....

Where do you and Mr. Rosner live? Wherever it is, I can understand why you can't easily find online bank accounts.

Edited June 11, 2007 by tropo

[jeffrosner]

One hand clapping in an outhouse says Mr. Rosner.

Barnyard, swine, outhouses....

Where do you and Mr. Rosner live? Wherever it is, I can understand why you can't easily find online bank accounts.

Ah, finally Mr. Rosner can help Tropo emerge from his single cell state to a being of higher consciousness and understanding. Mr. Rosner would love to get a bank account wherever he chooses but alas cannot as they insist on a work permit.

Mr. Rosner regrets that Tropo is displaying his need of remedial reading education and suggests that he read the first post 3 more times.