4 hours ago, ravip said:

Thank you. 

You're correct. She did a reservation on Booking dot com a couple of weeks ago.

 

Last night,  the criminal had tried again,  but luckily the bank has cancelled the card.

KTC is investigating. Hopefully they will return the money. 

Last year I had my c card hacked and I only use it on Agoda..part of the same ownership as Booking.com I discovered under Agodas settings it says remember CC details for next time...now deleted... I'm convinced someone at Agoda passed my details on to a third party...I lost nothing as my Bank stopped payment 😔 

14 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Big C has tap 

Not sure about Makro They don't take kasikorn credit cards 

Not my Big C ! The cashier wants the card to insert in the terminal!

The temptation to use your home country credit card is strong.  You get international rates, and you’re borrowing the bank’s money, not yours.  So if you get hacked, it’s their problem.  That said, I’ve had my credit card hacked twice.  No more fuel charges.  Not sure about Lazada, or hotel booking sites.

Strange about Booking.com - used it last year to book a few days in Patts and received an email at 5 am on the day of arrival stating that the booking was cancelled due to an electrical problem in the room . Went to the place anyway and just checked in as usual , nobody mentioned any problem , so I assume this was a scam , but why ? And what was the point ?

On 5/11/2025 at 1:56 PM, KhunBENQ said:

booking.com has a specific security problem with hotel ITs hacked and people sent phishing messages that look 100% legit.

Not sure whether it's related.

 

I experienced this recently while booking hotels in India on booking.com. Immediately after making the bookings, I received a WhatsApp message, purportedly from the hotel, telling me that in order to complete the booking, I had to deposit the payment into their bank account. I realized it was a scam after I got the same message despite selecting the "pay at the hotel" option. Besides, when booking a hotel via booking.com, booking.com would never ask a customer to make payment by depositing money into some random bank account. The payment would/should always be done directly through the booking.com website by credit card, and never by a deposit into a bank account.

8 hours ago, persimmon said:

Strange about Booking.com - used it last year to book a few days in Patts and received an email at 5 am on the day of arrival stating that the booking was cancelled due to an electrical problem in the room . Went to the place anyway and just checked in as usual , nobody mentioned any problem , so I assume this was a scam , but why ? And what was the point ?

 

The scam is that they try to panic you by saying the booking has been cancelled and you have to reinstate it quickly by paying direct to them (fake of course). The hotel knows nothing about it.

On 5/12/2025 at 9:15 AM, KhunBENQ said:

Yes thats what I remembered.

I have a US credit card, on my 2nd one with this bank as a couple of years ago had someone hack it and they tried to use the card for two charges.  However my bank fraud office knows where I have used the card with no problem but as soon as they saw two charges as a strange store, they withelld the paying of those two charges, contacted me and asked if they were valid and since they weren't they didn't pay out.  But, they then cancelled that credit card and I had to wait for a new one.  I still get occasional contacts from the fraud people but no fake charges since that one time.  

With everyone try to get you to use your card to pay it will happen a lot more. This is just the beginning. In theory it is a good convenient way to pay but when you are putting your data across the network you have no idea who is seeing it. Companies here, I wont say who, but openly say they want you to agree for them to use your data as they see fit. It is a recipe for disaster. When you use your card in the scanner you have no idea as to who is seeing that information.

Avoid Booking .com like the Plague; i've had three friends who had nothing but trouble with them including double charges to Cards and took months to get refunds.

20 hours ago, riclag said:

Not my Big C ! The cashier wants the card to insert in the terminal!

In my two local Big C's we have Staff who will Tap and others who insert the Card.  This is because they recieve little or zero training.   There are times when the Young Girls are still wearing Student Uniforms after they get to work !

Most Credit cards have the option of locking them when not in use, its a new valuable safety option.

 

In addition most credit cards now also have the option of a two stage authentication for payments, via your registered Telephone number.  (Not authenticated means payment not processed.)

 

These options make a Credit card fairly bullet proof against illegal withdrawals.

On 5/11/2025 at 2:22 AM, ravip said:

(Admins - I hope this is the correct place for this topic)

 

My TGF just informed me that her credit card had been hacked last night.

Transaction amount - THB 50,000/= (GBP 1160/=

Transaction type - Booking dot com

Transaction country - Maybe UK

 

She had already informed the card issuer : KTC

 

What is the best course of action to take next?

 

Thank you very much in advance.

 

On 5/11/2025 at 1:56 PM, KhunBENQ said:

Give a card to a pump station assistant and expect it to be photographed from both sides. If the card issuer has no two factor feature that is enough to use the date online.

No hack in the IT way needed.

Has it every happened to you? 

Yep - Had UK fraudulent payments made on my UK Card a few times.

They always return the money. 

They know where and on what device the money was used (even know if its a Mac or PC etc or other sales mechanism).

 

Also in Thailand - myself and my Wife: 

The notification of use always pops up and if its fraudulent, we contact the bank (always get the money back, or rather, not deducted). 

 

I reckon it happens at least once per year - more commonly to my Wife for some reason.

 

I think its mostly from online payments.

 

 

 

We use Credit Card payments for everything - and the reason we do is because of the protection they offer.

 

Cash is always king.

Good luck with the cashless society.

The biggest thief,  uses a keyboard now days. 

19 minutes ago, quake said:

Cash is always king.

Good luck with the cashless society.

The biggest thief,  uses a keyboard now days. 

 

Good luck buying your next, car, motorcycle, computer etc with cash.... 

 

Always amused by the Cash-is-king comment....      then we read the news of someone getting robbed !!!

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Good luck buying your next, car, motorcycle, computer etc with cash.... 

 

 

 

Thailand, not an issue.

Missus's car is a Type R Civic I paid cash... 8 months ago.

 

On 5/11/2025 at 9:32 AM, ThreeCardMonte said:

Best advice is don’t use credit cards in Thailand, physically.

 

I never do. Nor banking apps. Phone gone... Not a moments sleep lost

 

As if it's some chore to pull bills out of your pocket and hand them to someone lol.

 

So many corporations get access to your data for which you are not paid. In fact you pay for the privilege of using those silly cards.

 

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Good luck buying your next, car, motorcycle, computer etc with cash.... 

 

Always amused by the Cash-is-king comment....      then we read the news of someone getting robbed !!!

 

I just restrict the use of cards.

Sorry if that offends you.  big yawn.

The last car I bought was a bankers draft. and motor bike was with cash. is that ok with you.

Bet the last time i was in Makro, the knob in front of me trying to pay using his phone 

and could not do it, then handed it to the cashier to do the transaction , was not you . 

 

 

2 hours ago, Pdavies99 said:

Most Credit cards have the option of locking them when not in use, its a new valuable safety option.

 

In addition most credit cards now also have the option of a two stage authentication for payments, via your registered Telephone number.  (Not authenticated means payment not processed.)

 

These options make a Credit card fairly bullet proof against illegal withdrawals.

 

This card had the two stage authentication .

But it is very strange that the first payment went through without the SMS.

When the guy tried it the second time, the SMS came but KTC had already blocked the card.

 

Yes, why did NOT the SMS come on the first instant?

There is no need to  give a credit card to anyone. If the  place accepts a debit card, then the machine can also accept a credit card,( if they take credit cards).

 

On 5/10/2025 at 10:32 PM, ThreeCardMonte said:

Best advice is don’t use credit cards in Thailand, physically.

 

I don't want to walk around with a wad of cash.  Decent hotels require a credit card  imprint when staying.  I can't very well say to the BKK Airport Hyatt, please accept my good intentions. A dinner at a higher end restaurant for 4  can easily  surpass 10,000 baht. Who wants to carry around a wad of cash?  I have SMS alerts on all transactions for my credit cards and bank accounts so I can  immediately spot a questionable transaction. I have had them and the  CC company reverses them quickly. Never had a fake charge with Amex. 2X with Visa and 1X with MC.  

On 5/12/2025 at 10:49 AM, phetphet said:

But I am very wary of using my actual UK debit cards anywhere.  Unlike credit cards, no protection on debit cards.

 

Incorrect.  They don't have Section 75 protection but they do have chargeback protection, which is what you would use on credit cards too for purchase of £100 GBP or less.

2 hours ago, quake said:

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Good luck buying your next, car, motorcycle, computer etc with cash.... 

 

Always amused by the Cash-is-king comment....      then we read the news of someone getting robbed !!!

 

I just restrict the use of cards.

Sorry if that offends you.  big yawn.

The last car I bought was a bankers draft. and motor bike was with cash. is that ok with you.

Bet the last time i was in Makro, the knob in front of me trying to pay using his phone 

and could not do it, then handed it to the cashier to do the transaction , was not you . 

 

Of course - no offence.. but there are so many similar anti-digital comments on here from people who have either failed to adapt or reject it and use flawed excuses to justify that... 

 

... its not the 'anti-digital' aspect that amuses me, its the lack of critical thought in the 'justification' to remain so one sided... 

 

The anecdotal 'slow guy in front of me couldn't use his phone' is a tired and worn out boomer excuse...  you wont see the person in front of you who pays in a split second with his phone, because he's gone in a flash... Touch and tap...  or a quick QR scan...  for me its a lot faster than cash...   

 

So, flawed excuses aside - lets get real.. 

 

Cash is great - we need it... but its not king, and neither is digital... both are important.

... and so block-chain and crypto-transaction may will supersede that....   

 

 

As far as credit cards are concerned - the right card is always protected....   Bankers draft ?...  cashiers check...  ??  my last car was paid for using my phone...   the last car I sold was also paid for (by the customer) in the same manner....  no need to call up the bank and conform the cashiers check is real...  

 

 

 

Just use cash- always- for everything.  Never use a credit card, ever.

10 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

There is no need to  give a credit card to anyone. If the  place accepts a debit card, then the machine can also accept a credit card,( if they take credit cards).

 

 

I don't want to walk around with a wad of cash.  Decent hotels require a credit card  imprint when staying.  I can't very well say to the BKK Airport Hyatt, please accept my good intentions. A dinner at a higher end restaurant for 4  can easily  surpass 10,000 baht. Who wants to carry around a wad of cash?  I have SMS alerts on all transactions for my credit cards and bank accounts so I can  immediately spot a questionable transaction. I have had them and the  CC company reverses them quickly. Never had a fake charge with Amex. 2X with Visa and 1X with MC.  

On this instance, the SMS with the OTP never arrived. But when the criminal tried the second time, the SMS arrived. 

 

Why or how did the SMS fail on the first transaction (with Booking dot com) is a mystery.

8 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Of course - no offence.. but there are so many similar anti-digital comments on here from people who have either failed to adapt or reject it and use flawed excuses to justify that... 

 

... its not the 'anti-digital' aspect that amuses me, its the lack of critical thought in the 'justification' to remain so one sided... 

 

The anecdotal 'slow guy in front of me couldn't use his phone' is a tired and worn out boomer excuse...  you wont see the person in front of you who pays in a split second with his phone, because he's gone in a flash... Touch and tap...  or a quick QR scan...  for me its a lot faster than cash...   

 

So, flawed excuses aside - lets get real.. 

 

Cash is great - we need it... but its not king, and neither is digital... both are important.

... and so block-chain and crypto-transaction may will supersede that....   

 

 

As far as credit cards are concerned - the right card is always protected....   Bankers draft ?...  cashiers check...  ??  my last car was paid for using my phone...   the last car I sold was also paid for (by the customer) in the same manner....  no need to call up the bank and conform the cashiers check is real...  

 

 

 

 

Ok.

Glad you acknowledge we still need cash.

 

I believe cash monitors your spending far better than flashing a QR code on your phone.

for some people who just can't manage money, i think cash is better for them.

 

Now one other reason to keep cash is. to stop governments and companies having control over your life.

We have seen what China and Canada have done when it comes down to control, shutting people down.

is that the world we want to live in. 

I will continue with cash for as long as possible as my main way of payments 

 

I have been hacked in thailand with my uk credit card 4 times so avoid using it in thailand now

I think one thing one can do is to use the foreign credit card from withing Google Wallet (or Apple pay). Such NFC payments are supersecure since the credit card data are not transmitted with each payment.

 

What I hate about shops in Thailand is that they insist on sticking my Thai debit card into the machine even when NFC would do. Entering the credit card into any machine entails a risk of card cloning from what I understand. Plus, in Thailand they have an array of machines and often don't now which to use, so they try one, then the other ... Often I just tell them "stop" and I pay in cash.

 

I also read it is better to have two cards rather than one in your pocket because two cards interfere with one another when a hacker comes near with a remote data hijacking device.

 

This being said, I've used my Thai debit card for over five years to shop in Thailand and I've never been hacked. Note that often the expats who report having been hacked are expats with a wife. Now if the wifes or girlfriends handle credit cards the way they handle their smartphones (breaking them every 4 months) accidents are likely to happen.

7 hours ago, quake said:

 

Ok.

Glad you acknowledge we still need cash.

 

I believe cash monitors your spending far better than flashing a QR code on your phone.

for some people who just can't manage money, i think cash is better for them.

 

I think thats still 'older thinking' there are loads of Apps available for cash and budget managements. 

Thinking of this 'only from our own perspective' is not a valid argument IMO.

 

Cash is great as an emergency but not as convenient.

 

 

7 hours ago, quake said:

Now one other reason to keep cash is. to stop governments and companies having control over your life.

 

How much cash are you keeping - US$500,000 under your mattress ?  - IF the government want control over your life, they'll have control over your bank do - you won't be able to withdraw cash...  So, Keep Gold in the safe ?  - its a rather a doomsday prepper kind of approach (and what if you get robbed etc).

 

7 hours ago, quake said:

We have seen what China and Canada have done when it comes down to control, shutting people down.

is that the world we want to live in. 

 

The 'Farage' argument has also been used - however, for the Average Westerner, this is not a concern whatsoever....  But, I agree with you, no government anywhere should be blocking our accounts.

 

Its why I will welcome wider adoption of Crypto - where even 'digital cash' (in a fiat base) as we know it may soon be a thing of the past we we pay with a decentralised currency (Crypto) without exchange rates without fee's (thats at least one idea of where this could all be going).

 

7 hours ago, quake said:

I will continue with cash for as long as possible as my main way of payments 

 

We need all options - I'd hate to see cash disappear, but it is by no means 'king'...  Gold would be a 'better King' if we had to chose one.

 

The reality of these discussion is that they always become 'binary' - as on Pro one thing, and Anti Another...  When in reality...

... being specifically Pro-Cash and Anti-Digital (Card / QR / Digital Trx etc) is a fundamentally flawed approach.... 

... Just as being Pro-Digital and Anti-Cash would also be a fundamentally flawed approach.

 

We here the strongest arguments from loudest voices at the extremes of the spectrum of this debate, whereas, in reality, anyone welcoming both cash and Digital payment options are sitting the most comfortably in a world of combined convenience and financial safety.

 

- Credit Card Fraud - it happens - the Banks take the risk.

- Monetary theft - it happens - We OR in larger Sums, the Bank takes the risk.

- Crypto-Fraud - it happens - We or the Exchange, takes the risks.

 

There are Solid precautions for all of the above - but from a day to pay perspective - I find Credit Card usage to provide a combination of being the most convenient and the safest.

 

 

 

 

 

Luckily, KTC cancelled the entire transaction.

12 hours ago, quake said:

 

Ok.

Glad you acknowledge we still need cash.

 

I believe cash monitors your spending far better than flashing a QR code on your phone.

for some people who just can't manage money, i think cash is better for them.

 

Now one other reason to keep cash is. to stop governments and companies having control over your life.

We have seen what China and Canada have done when it comes down to control, shutting people down.

is that the world we want to live in. 

I will continue with cash for as long as possible as my main way of payments 

 

This is such nonsense. You still need a debit card to take money out of the ATM, unless you are one of those persons who insists on lining up to see a bank teller for a withdrawal. If the government had a  sinister plan to control credit cards, it could just as easily apply the same measures to debit cards or even  bank accounts.   The extent that you people go to weave such imagined convoluted plots is scary because you are allowed to roam freely amongst us.

 

Canada did not shut just anyone down. What it did do is to freeze the bank accounts that were collecting funds for a handful of  bullies who were terrorizing a residential population in Ottawa and who were engaged in illegal and inappropriate civil disturbance and protests during Covid. Blocking the shipments of essential goods such as food and  medical supplies at a border crossing was not legitimate protest. Disrupting  the delivery of medical services was not legitimate  protest. Multiple  requests were made to stop the blockages and were ignored. Court orders were secured and were ignored.  Parking  heavy trucks on residential  streets, blaring music and horns at all hours, and running the engines such that the neighborhood was filled with choking diesel fumes was not legitimate protest. Terrifying children and stopping people from the use of their homes was not legitimate protest. Court orders were given to cease and desist, and were ignored. The government's response was far too mild when it came to the small group of selfish bullies with their claims of conspiracies and their promotion of far right political ideology.

 

You keep paying with cash. However, do not expect merchants and retailers to accept to bend over backwards to transact act with you. Have fun making a big purchase like an airline ticket or a hotel stay. Lucky for you that you do not travel much or have the need to make large  transactions. And lucky for you that you can manage with a  poor credit score. Most people cannot function like that. Some people use their credit cards to obtain status at hotels and on airlines and that makes travel much easier.