Money in bank vanished

[john smith]

When I updated my bank book some 80 withdrawals in a twenty hour period were listed. Each withdrawal was for 34.15 Baht. And made from an ATM machine(?) The machine (?) number is shown as( from) 00. My bank card withdrawals from my own branch shows ( from) 02 The bank is investigating and luckily the update was completed and the card cancelled  before any real damage was done. The only cash point used recently is that of my bank and I always cover the keyboard. I never use my card online. On one occasion last month a hospital bill was paid with the card. That payment too shows in my bank book as 00. I would be interested to know if 00 is a generic number or a specific one as If it is a specific one my next hospital bill will require a cash payment. Carrying lumps of cash is not clever but it may be required.

Presumably the bank - for the usual reasons I can't name it - will come to some conclusion in the meantime I am a little wary of paying my upcoming hospital bill with my bank card.

[Jingthing]

Sounds very concerning. Good luck in sorting it out. I have accounts in three banks here. I would recommend that people sign up for activity notification SMSs from their accounts with larger balances. That costs 200 baht per year at Siam Commercial Bank for example. 

[Mac Mickmanus]

Maybe they were taking 1 US$ out at a time, thinking that you wouldn't notice a $ going out 

[bbko]

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I would recommend that people sign up for activity notification SMSs from their accounts with larger balances. That costs 200 baht per year at Siam Commercial Bank for example.

My Bangkok Bank does SMS notifications for withdraws over 500 baht, one year 170b.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

i never use my card for anything ,besides ATM sometimes and even this i am doing only

with the bank's big branches.

Thailand, like most of the world, is not safe for card use, but much safer for cash carrying. so

why not use cash?

 

and i lovedthe way you wrote "...my bank and i..." as if the bank is some king a lover you have

to put first...

[Moonlover]

Well it quite obvious that no one can draw 34.15 THB from an ATM! And a repetitive action like that clearly points to computing error within the banks own or an associated system.

 

As long as the bank has sorted out the problem and your card's function has been restored, I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

One thing's for sure. The bank will never explain what the problem was.

[bert bloggs]

As has been posted just sign up for a notification for any withdrawl.

[Jingthing]

My strategy is to have three Thai bank accounts.

 

One with lots of money for visa purposes. I use the card for ATM but nothing else.

 

Another one only for automatic withdrawals for utilities. I cash it up manually. Usually under 10k.

 

Another one for heavy use of debit card, online shopping, etc. Usually under 30k in it.

[fangless]

11 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

One with lots of money for visa purposes. I use the card for ATM but nothing else.

Surely that is the one account that should NOT have an ATM or any access other than in branch with a passport. 

i.e.  A Fixed Deposit account that only you with a passport and in branch can access.

[CharlieH]

Some trolling style remarks removed.

[CharlieH]

Holding account with main funds and NO CARD.only passbook and online transfer.

2nd account with a smaller working balance ATM card.

attach notification by sms for any transaction.

 

Get the app on your phone.

 

Finally, if the bank has it, a virtual online card that you can switch on and off at will, and set the limit on as required.

 

The above scenario/facilities will cover most situations and provide security.

 

Just a suggestion.????

 

 

[Jingthing]

20 minutes ago, fangless said:

Surely that is the one account that should NOT have an ATM or any access other than in branch with a passport. 

i.e.  A Fixed Deposit account that only you with a passport and in branch can access.

Well I don't agree. I spend from it via ATM and top it up annually with an international transfer. I'm comfortable that it won't be illicitly drained with the notifications. I think immigration likes to see spending too though it isn't required.

Edited October 12, 2021 by Jingthing

[Captain Monday]

I had 8-10 million Baht in Bangkok Bank earning a nifty bit of interest in fixed accounts.

Took almost all out after I was told I had come to Thailand " too many times" and forced into an Elite Visa programme around 2015. I will not KEEP any large portion of my funds in a country I have no right to enter.

 

Nobody ever warned me about a virus and being locked out 10 months, I was prepared already financially but every expat needs a plan B.

 

What is in YOUR bug out bag?

 

 

[couchpotato]

7 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

I had 8-10 million Baht in Bangkok Bank earning a nifty bit of interest in fixed accounts.

Took almost all out after I was told I had come to Thailand " too many times" and forced into an Elite Visa programme around 2015. I will not KEEP any large portion of my funds in a country I have no right to enter.

 

Nobody ever warned me about a virus and being locked out 10 months, I was prepared already financially but every expat needs a plan B.

 

What is in YOUR bug out bag?

 

 

Strange post to start a thread.

[timendres]

6 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Maybe they were taking 1 US$ out at a time, thinking that you wouldn't notice a $ going out 

Indeed. Exactly like the "test charge" many online sites use to ensure they can charge your card later for a subscription service. Then the charge is reversed later. Possibly a bug at one of those outfits? Have you subscribed to anything online lately?

[Chad3000]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

My strategy is to have three Thai bank accounts.

 

One with lots of money for visa purposes. I use the card for ATM but nothing else.

 

Another one only for automatic withdrawals for utilities. I cash it up manually. Usually under 10k.

 

Another one for heavy use of debit card, online shopping, etc. Usually under 30k in it.

This is essentially what I do as well.

 

Visa

Savings

Spending

 

I don't even keep cards on the large accounts so that if there's any issue it's clearly bank employee theft. Use sms as well.

 

I'm no longer happy with SCB for a few reasons. K bank was a disaster for me.

[Mac Mickmanus]

7 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

I had 8-10 million Baht in Bangkok Bank earning a nifty bit of interest in fixed accounts.

Took almost all out after I was told I had come to Thailand " too many times" and forced into an Elite Visa programme around 2015. I will not KEEP any large portion of my funds in a country I have no right to enter.

 

 

You wasnt really forced into having an Elite Visa , there were other options available , like tourist visas, retirement visas and a few other options . 

[userabcd]

13 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Well it quite obvious that no one can draw 34.15 THB from an ATM! And a repetitive action like that clearly points to computing error within the banks own or an associated system.

 

As long as the bank has sorted out the problem and your card's function has been restored, I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

One thing's for sure. The bank will never explain what the problem was.

Agree, looks like some bank system error.

[BritManToo]

14 hours ago, john smith said:

When I updated my bank book some 80 withdrawals in a twenty hour period were listed. Each withdrawal was for 34.15 Baht.

This is more likely a 'Google Pay' problem.

Whenever you use a card online Google pay asks if you want to save the card for use in Google Pay.

If your answer is 'save', they deduct 1$/E/pound, then refund it as a test the card works.

Happened with my TMB card when I used it online a day or so back.

Edited October 13, 2021 by BritManToo

[john smith]

I have never used my card online for any purpose. Having stopped the card yesterday - bank closing - I said that I would return today to make new arrangements. The bank lady said to do that. On returning today I found the bank was closed for a bank holiday. Ho hum try again tomorrow. At least fifty percent my own fault. I have taken to heart the advise to have two accounts one of which will be for ATM use and also to be informed every time cash is withdrawn.

[JimGant]

16 hours ago, john smith said:

And made from an ATM machine(?)

A 34.15 baht atm pull from a Thai atm machine is not possible. Also, you cannot clone a chipped atm/debit card to work in an atm machine. Yes, fraudsters can copy chip info into a cloned magnetic stripped card, which at certain merchant POS machines has a fall-back position to the magnetic strip info, thus bypassing the chip protection. Also, of course, your up-front info can be copied by the waiter (for use on-line, card not present transactions), who took the card to the back room, to include copying your CVV info (just scrape it off the card, and record it somewhere; it's never needed for card present transactions, just card not present (online) transactions.).

 

Anyway, this sounds like a debit, not atm, transaction, at least in the mechanics of it (how/why it's recorded as an atm transaction is curious...). And as many have said on this forum, just zero out your daily debit limit and turn your debit/atm card into a purely atm card. And, as it's chipped, you're completely free from fraudsters, unless you lose it or it's stolen.

[Captain Monday]

11 hours ago, couchpotato said:

Strange post to start a thread.

Are you "confused"?

Just Don't put $USD 250,000 in a Thai bank.

Deposit it in a rational country that does not threaten to deny you entry because you have "come too many times".

Edited October 13, 2021 by Captain Monday

[Burma Bill]

On 10/12/2021 at 8:48 PM, bbko said:

My Bangkok Bank does SMS notifications for withdraws over 500 baht, one year 170b.

Likewise with my former Bangkok Bank account, SMS not only for withdrawals but deposits as well, especially notifications of pension payments during public holidays. Now I have personal internet banking via my computer with my new Cambodian bank.

[nickmondo]

Exactly the same happened to me, and the same amount taken multiple times, this week.

It is a Terminal Machine transaction.

I could not cancel my card on line, tried to call the bank to stop it, on hold for ages, then the automated call back later message!

By the time I had gone to the bank (one that opened at 0830) and had to personally talk to Customer Services to cancel the card, they had taken nearly 13,000 baht.

I have over 600k in the account

If i had not spotted it, they would have emptied the account!!!!!!!!

Why the bank did not spot this unusual activity and put a hold on the card is beyond me.

The bank are now investigating.

I have also reported it to the police, with the help of my Thai GF.

Another payment of 1,750 was taken by Google Play.

I have no accounts with Google Play.

I have contacted Google about this, and they investigate also.

I will never again use a Credit or Debit Card here in Thailand

I will just use the banking app

If i dont get my money back, its just over 300 UKP, so no big deal.

But for sure, it wont happen again.

Also thinking to invest in a safe, and keep all the dosh in that..........just ridiculous

[nickmondo]

12 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Likewise with my former Bangkok Bank account, SMS not only for withdrawals but deposits as well, especially notifications of pension payments during public holidays. Now I have personal internet banking via my computer with my new Cambodian bank.

well that aint going to be any good if the withdrawel is 34 baht now is it!!!!!!!!

[DPKANKAN]

On 10/12/2021 at 8:48 PM, bbko said:

My Bangkok Bank does SMS notifications for withdraws over 500 baht, one year 170b.

My Kasikorn account I get an SMS every time anything goes in or out!!! Set that up years ago 'cos of the ex-wife????????????????????????????????

[rwill]

On 10/12/2021 at 8:48 PM, bbko said:

My Bangkok Bank does SMS notifications for withdraws over 500 baht, one year 170b.

SCB here.  But I can set the notification limit to whatever I want.  You may be able to change yours too.

[CMBob]

On 10/12/2021 at 8:38 PM, Jingthing said:

Sounds very concerning. Good luck in sorting it out. I have accounts in three banks here. I would recommend that people sign up for activity notification SMSs from their accounts with larger balances. That costs 200 baht per year at Siam Commercial Bank for example. 

I also have a SCB account and get the SMS notifications of seemingly any activity (withdrawals, login events, etc.) but I'm not being charged for any of that.  I do pay annually 200 baht for use of the ATM card.

I agree with your notion to somewhat have a Plan B and have money in a couple of banks.  Plus, if one happens to have more than 1 million baht in accounts here, wise to have that spread around to supposedly maintain government deposit protection (although the likelihood of any of the major Thai banks failing or  being allowed to fail is likely near zero).

Edited October 14, 2021 by CMBob
"Gooder" English....

[pacovl46]

How does an ATM pay out 0.15 Baht? 
 

There’s ATM skimmers that look like the real number pad of an ATM. They just lay them over the real one and you would never notice unless you actively look for it. So with one use they have your card details and your pin code. I always check if the number pad is loose or can be taken off before I use an ATM.

[KannikaP]

On 10/12/2021 at 8:33 PM, john smith said:

Each withdrawal was for 34.15 Baht.

The minimum you can withdraw from an ATM is Bht 100. Troll.