I'm so paranoid about my card being skimmed at an ATM that I'm having a terrible Christmas, not just for me, but for everyone around me as well. What I wrote today may seem absurd, but the paranoia, being in the middle of nowhere, and waiting for money that never arrives have amplified this fear. First of all, I apologize to everyone, but I would like to know if the risk of card skimming is really that high. Thank you 🙏

Don't use the card, do cardless withdrawals instead by using the app

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Don't use the card, do cardless withdrawals instead by using the app

I don't want to use the app. Bad experience with it in the past

Just now, Mika78 said:

I don't want to use the app. Bad experience with it in the past

then maybe you'll get skimmed

Always try to pull off the card reader, very hard!

 

If it comes off, it's a skimmer.

You are posting this all other the internet .

What is it that you want ?

1 hour ago, Mika78 said:

I'm so paranoid about my card being skimmed at an ATM

why? is it happening to a bunch of people you know?

 

or are you smoking too much non-medicinal weed?

 

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

why? is it happening to a bunch of people you know?

I don't know anyone got skimmed: just I find it strange that it takes so long when, in the past 5 months, every time it took just 1/2 days.

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

or are you smoking too much non-medicinal weed?

 

Imagine that: I don't smoke and drink. Imagine if I do😁

1 hour ago, Mika78 said:

 I don't smoke and drink. Imagine if I do😁

perhaps you need to to lighten up.........

 

3 hours ago, Mika78 said:

I'm so paranoid about my card being skimmed at an ATM

Use an ATM in a shopping centre outside a branch.......very unlikely to happen.

Most risk can be mitigated by:

 

1) Cover your hand when entering your PIN

2) Not handing your card to a waiter, ask that you pay at the card reader yourself 

2) Disable card functionality (online and in store purchases, cash withdrawals, etc) or freeze the whole card, via your bank website, except when youre using these functions 

9 minutes ago, topt said:

perhaps you need to to lighten up.........

 

Use an ATM in a shopping centre outside a branch.......very unlikely to happen.

I always do but sometimes I use also the one outside.

Please help me out with a quick one.

 

I usually use my Mastercard in Krungsri ATM (yellow) and choose "no conversion". I believe that has been the best.

 

Some weeks ago I had to use Kasikorn. I now read my statement. It seems the Kasikorn 30k Baht came out $100 more expensive than my average Krungsri withdrawal. (given in Swedish currency on my statement).

 

Kasikorn seem to come up as "Thai farmers bank" on the statement.

 

Is Kasikorn really that bad or is this a coincidence with rates. Both Baht and SEK have been up and down lately.

18 minutes ago, thailandsgreat said:

and choose "no conversion". I believe that has been the best.

Absolutely it's the best. Converting back to your home currency at point of sale or ATM withdrawal is one of the biggest travel rip offs out there. The exchange rate using this method is terrible. 

43 minutes ago, Lightyear said:

Absolutely it's the best. Converting back to your home currency at point of sale or ATM withdrawal is one of the biggest travel rip offs out there. The exchange rate using this method is terrible. 

 

   Lose about 10 % when allowing the Thai bank to convert

On 12/24/2025 at 6:39 PM, Mika78 said:

I don't know anyone got skimmed: just I find it strange that it takes so long when, in the past 5 months, every time it took just 1/2 days.

 

What takes "so long" and "1/2 days"? Your OP is about using an ATM.

 

If you are too scared to use the ATM located at a branch of the bank, then there's not much more that the bank or forum members can do to counter your groundless paranoia.

2 hours ago, thailandsgreat said:

Please help me out with a quick one.

 

I usually use my Mastercard in Krungsri ATM (yellow) and choose "no conversion". I believe that has been the best.

 

Some weeks ago I had to use Kasikorn. I now read my statement. It seems the Kasikorn 30k Baht came out $100 more expensive than my average Krungsri withdrawal. (given in Swedish currency on my statement).

 

Kasikorn seem to come up as "Thai farmers bank" on the statement.

 

Is Kasikorn really that bad or is this a coincidence with rates. Both Baht and SEK have been up and down lately.

Better to use WISE, where you can choose when to transfer, and the Thai baht amount is agreed before sending.

9 hours ago, thailandsgreat said:

Please help me out with a quick one.

 

I usually use my Mastercard in Krungsri ATM (yellow) and choose "no conversion". I believe that has been the best.

 

Some weeks ago I had to use Kasikorn. I now read my statement. It seems the Kasikorn 30k Baht came out $100 more expensive than my average Krungsri withdrawal. (given in Swedish currency on my statement).

 

Kasikorn seem to come up as "Thai farmers bank" on the statement.

 

Is Kasikorn really that bad or is this a coincidence with rates. Both Baht and SEK have been up and down lately.

You didn't say whether at Kasikorn you chose no conversion, if so your mastercard rate would be used for both withdrawals. The rates have been going down lately, check the history

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

What takes "so long" and "1/2 days"? Your OP is about using an ATM.

I mean: normally the deposit from abroad came in in 1/2 days. But now still nothing after 6 days. Even if my balance didn't change, I am scared of this "skimming" machine.

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

If you are too scared to use the ATM located at a branch of the bank, then there's not much more that the bank or forum members can do to counter your groundless paranoia.

I always try to use only ATMs inside department stores, but sometimes I don't. Rarely but I don't 

38 minutes ago, Mika78 said:

I mean: normally the deposit from abroad came in in 1/2 days. But now still nothing after 6 days. Even if my balance didn't change, I am scared of this "skimming" machine.

 

Inbound remittances from overseas aren't 'skimmable' as these are bank to bank. Six days suggests you initiated the transfer last Saturday, so you caught the weekend. At least two days since then have probably been bank holidays, either here or there.

 

It's the Christmas and New Year holidays.

 

38 minutes ago, Mika78 said:

I always try to use only ATMs inside department stores, but sometimes I don't. Rarely but I don't 

 

Standalone ATM in department stores or malls are probably more risky than the ones inside, or directly adjacent to a bank branch in the mall.

 

My own 'security' involves using the same ATM at the same branch of the bank inside the same mall and pulling the same amount each time. That helps build a history of what the bank's own security algorithms determine as legitimate transactions.

 

 

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Inbound remittances from overseas aren't 'skimmable' as these are bank to bank.

I am sorry, I don't understand: once the deposit from overseas is in my account, they can take it as I do, right?

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Six days suggests you initiated the transfer last Saturday, so you caught the weekend.

 

 

The money was sent on 18, I don't know if before or after cut off time. But, anyway, took always 1/2 days (no more) to reach my account.

Never have problems from 2006, hope this is not the first time.

On 12/24/2025 at 5:22 PM, scubascuba3 said:

then maybe you'll get skimmed

There's no need to fuel his phobia. The chances of a card being skimmed at an ATM are nearly zero, but for the more paranoid among us...

 

Only use ATMs at bank branches or in shopping malls.

 

To skim an ATM card, they need 2 devices: one to copy the magnetic strip, attached to the card entry slot, and a method of "seeing" the PIN as it is entered. That requires either a video camera or a false keypad over the top of the machine keypad. They would only be able to install them on ATMs in isolated locations. ATMs outside major shops and 7-Elevens are also very safe.

 

You will be able to find images of card skimmers online so you can familiarise yourself with what they look like.

22 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Standalone ATM in department stores or malls are probably more risky than the ones inside, or directly adjacent to a bank branch in the mall.

How would anyone be able to install skimmers on an ATM inside a busy shopping mall, even if "standalone"? Any ATM in a major shopping mall is 100% safe.

2 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

That requires either a video camera or a false keypad over the top of the machine keypad.

In my paranoia always cover the keyboard and clean it with full hand while done. This delay make me crazy.

10 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

ATMs outside major shops and 7-Elevens are also very safe.

 

No, they aren't very safe, especially outside 7-elevens where someone can park close to the ATM and use tech to watch and skim.

 

25 minutes ago, Mika78 said:

I am sorry, I don't understand: once the deposit from overseas is in my account, they can take it as I do, right?

 

I don't understand either. Who is 'they'?

 

How do you check on your account balance? You mentioned earlier you avoid using the app due to 'bad experience'. So you are waiting for what is possibly a delayed deposit, and the only way you can check is how, by using the ATM to check your balance? But you're scared to use the ATM in case they skim your card?

 

Most bank ATM will issue a mini-statement, but you are paranoid about ATM use. So go into the bank with your passport, ATM card and pass book and get them to check your balance.

 

 If it looks like nothing has arrived, you need to get information from the REMITTING bank before the Thai bank can initiate any searches. Have you contacted the remitting bank?

2 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

No, they aren't very safe, especially outside 7-elevens where someone can park close to the ATM and use tech to watch and skim.

Yes, they are very safe, and I've been using them for 20 years in Pattaya, at countless Sevens.

 

What is this "tech" they use to skim your card's electronic strip? Are you talking about a card insert installed on top of the original slot? Even if they could attach a device, they need to see your PIN, and that's easy to hide as you enter it. All ATMs have a warning to cover your hand as you enter a PIN. 

 

For anyone, such as the OP, who is super paranoid, only use ATM deposit machines. Adding a skimmer to these particular models would be impossible.

 

I have no fear of skimming, but losing my ATM card in a machine does concern me, as it's a royal pain to get a new card. I only use international cards at bank branch machines.

 

 

 

 

22 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

 

 

I don't understand either. Who is 'they'?

Who eventually skimmed my card. Once the deposit from abroad is in my account, they can take is as I do all the time.

22 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

How do you check on your account balance? You mentioned earlier you avoid using the app due to 'bad experience'. So you are waiting for what is possibly a delayed deposit, and the only way you can check is how, by using the ATM to check your balance? But you're scared to use the ATM in case they skim your card?

I check the balance twice a day from the ATM. I am out of the city for the holiday and check the ATM is the only way. I saw my balance always at 93 THB so I suppose it's still safe as, any deposit from abroad, will change that number.

22 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Most bank ATM will issue a mini-statement, but you are paranoid about ATM use.

Never saw one.

22 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 Have you contacted the remitting bank?

I have proof that the transfer was processed on December 18th.

3 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

Yes, they are very safe, and I've been using them for 20 years in Pattaya, at countless Sevens.

 

What is this "tech" they use to skim your card's electronic strip? Are you talking about a card insert installed on top of the original slot? Even if they could attach a device, they need to see your PIN, and that's easy to hide as you enter it. All ATMs have a warning to cover your hand as you enter a PIN. 

 

For anyone, such as the OP, who is super paranoid, only use ATM deposit machines. Adding a skimmer to these particular models would be impossible.

 

I have no fear of skimming, but losing my ATM card in a machine does concern me, as it's a royal pain to get a new card. I only use international cards at bank branch machines.

 

 

 

Up to you if you think using ATM that are accessed and accessible to hundreds, possibly thousands of people 24/7 are safer than the less public ones located at a branch of the bank that's closed for maybe 12 hours a day. You've been lucky and I'm not wishing you otherwise.

 

Good point on foreign card security though, using at bank branch-only ATM. I had a foreign card get stuck in the ejector at a standalone ATM opposite Naklua fish market, and subsequently "eaten". Promptly advised the issuing bank and replaced.

 

Some report being lucky getting their "eaten" card back from a branch ATM. However, not all banks have access to these machines as refilling (and removing "eaten" cards) is done by a contractor, usually working out of banking hours.

On 12/24/2025 at 4:51 PM, Mika78 said:

I'm so paranoid about my card being skimmed at an ATM that I'm having a terrible Christmas, not just for me, but for everyone around me as well. What I wrote today may seem absurd, but the paranoia, being in the middle of nowhere, and waiting for money that never arrives have amplified this fear. First of all, I apologize to everyone, but I would like to know if the risk of card skimming is really that high. Thank you 🙏

There is always a risk... But to minimize the risk only use ATMs in a bank location inside a mall or such where the ATM is monitored... Don't use ATM on the street or in a tourist area that are unattended... Inside the airport when you first arrive would be OK too...

WTF are you doing??  Got a computer with your own data network or a phone with data?  Do you have a Thai bank account - then get one - not Bangkok Bank.  Then get a Wise or OFX account and they transfer the money from your home bank account into your Thai bank account - done in under 15 minutes with Kasikorn or Krungsri. Then go to an ATM and withdraw the money - ONLY use one in a Mall or Makro - never one that is outside (like a 7/11). 

11 minutes ago, Mika78 said:

Who eventually skimmed my card. Once the deposit from abroad is in my account, they can take is as I do all the time.

I check the balance twice a day from the ATM. I am out of the city for the holiday and check the ATM is the only way. I saw my balance always at 93 THB so I suppose it's still safe as, any deposit from abroad, will change that number.

Never saw one.

I have proof that the transfer was processed on December 18th.

 

You seriously need to get the banking app working. They're idiot-proof.