My friend had her bag stolen in a club the other night - shortly after her a/c was emptied over a period of a few minutes by repeated withdrawals from her ATM.

This was before she knew about or reported the theft to the police.

What are her chances of the bank refunding her losses?

I think the chance is zero. BUT how did the thief know about the pin number?

She probably wrote the pin on the back of the card.

She better play it cool.

The PIN will be the key to this.

You are not supposed to keep it with the card or even to write it down. The bank will not like that at all.

For them to empty the ATM so quickly they had to have the PIN number or it is a stupid PIN like 1234.

She will get nada.

That is one of the oldest bar girl scams to milk money from her Foreign friend.

You might want to check what her daily ATM withdrawal limit was, and how much she can take out in a single transaction. 'Repeated withdrawals' in a few minutes doesn't sound necessary or plausible. Guessing the PIN number even less so. Don't like your chances.

The PIN will be the key to this.

You are not supposed to keep it with the card or even to write it down. The bank will not like that at all.

For them to empty the ATM so quickly they had to have the PIN number or it is a stupid PIN like 1234.

recent survay found that indeed 10% of all PIN numbers are still 1234!!! shocking isnt it?

no bank will pay for this loss. if they would, tomorrow you just lend your card to a friend, and then line up for refund, what would hold back anyone?

That is one of the oldest bar girl scams to milk money from her Foreign friend.

Often which such limited education, this is why they cannot be more devious. Follow the money.

Her chances are absolutely zero, even in a western country your chances would probably be zero unless you can prove the loss was the banks fault.

The PIN will be the key to this.

You are not supposed to keep it with the card or even to write it down. The bank will not like that at all.

For them to empty the ATM so quickly they had to have the PIN number or it is a stupid PIN like 1234.

recent survay found that indeed 10% of all PIN numbers are still 1234!!! shocking isnt it?

no bank will pay for this loss. if they would, tomorrow you just lend your card to a friend, and then line up for refund, what would hold back anyone?

Back home they do refund if the card was skimmed for instance... that is not the case in Thailand.

The friend should file a police report in the district where the original theft occurred.

The go to the branch where the account was opened and file a report asking for details on the ATM location(s).

The file police reports in the district(s) where those ATM(s) are located asking for the video.

Present the video to the bank to seek restitution.

There have been other success stories, although my vague recollection is that they involved skimming/video cameras or spotters to pick up the PIN.

I assume the thief would have known your friend. and possibly been with her at some prior point at an ATM where she observed the PIN. Shoulder surfing at ATMs seems acceptable in Thailand, I see it all the time. That means it may be a 'view and follow' situation.

It seems highly unlikely that they just guessed her number and also unlikely that it is 1234.

Yes we are assuming that her PIN was observed and she was then followed by an accomplice. Women are particularly vulnerable in that they tend to keep stuff like this in bags rather than attached to themselves.

The friend should file a police report in the district where the original theft occurred.

The go to the branch where the account was opened and file a report asking for details on the ATM location(s).

The file police reports in the district(s) where those ATM(s) are located asking for the video.

Present the video to the bank to seek restitution.

There have been other success stories, although my vague recollection is that they involved skimming/video cameras or spotters to pick up the PIN.

Thanks - This is more or less the process we are following.

If she took reasonable precautions to avoid this (e.g. not writing the pin on the card), she will be entitled to compensation for the losses, entitled being the key word here. She won't actually get it unless it's a significant amount.

I don't think the bank will refund the losses. I was just wondering, how did the thief know about the 4 digit number