It gets done all over the world! Not sure how? but I know people get your pin by standing over you or vidioing it while withdrawing!

But usually done on Credit cards and the new Debit visa/mastercards that you put your own money on.

your money can be taken out anywhere in the world, as long as its not over the shop limit it can keep comming out until security center smells arat.

Den

Just can't see how it can be done without the actual plastic card.
I could tell you my PN but what good will that be if you don't have the actual card. With a credit card you can give somebody the PN and they can go to town, but how can somebody empty you ATM account without the actual physical plastic card?

Perhaps from the recipt that most people leave behind or throw away??

Den

I think next time I'm in my bank I'll ask them about it.

Try opening a bank account that you will just use for your trip and then link your orange savings account to it. While you are away have use the computer to transfer money into your bank account and use the atm card. Have another account with an ATM card with a third bank as back up in case something happens with your first bank account with ATM card. Bring 2 Atm cards from each account with you when you travel. To be extra safe have someone not traveling with your (brother, sister, parents, children) jointly on the first bank account so they can deposit money in it if you need or clear up any problems in your home country with the account if you need them to. You may ask why have a third bank and the reason is sometimes there are network problems or your bank's computer system is down for maintenance. Believe me it is not a fun situation to be in to have no money in your wallet and you can't access your account and you don't speak the language in a foreign country.

for any type of card use age - it is best to contact your bank prior to your departure and inform them that you will be overseas travelling - your destinantion/s and dates and then they will be right on top of any fraudulent transactions after those dates

Well guys, Last Thursday my visa card had $8,500 spent on it from a jewellers at Bondi Junction NSW. (We live in SA) This is a card with the new chip technology, has not been used in a shop, overseas or online for about 2 years. It sits in our safe for an emergency. We did use to use it overseas a few years ago before the new chip technology.

It is being investigated and what they know so far is that someone physically walked into that jewellers with a card and our account number on it, and probably a fake name on the card (both our cards are with us). More than likely they had fake drivers licenses, passports etc as they would have had to have id as well due to the amount of the transaction.

Had to happen now, we leave in 10 days for 3mths in Thailand!!

Anyway besides all that, we are so careful with cards overseas. I take a laptop and transfer money when we need it from our savings account into a totally seperate account just used for travelling. Then we have another emergency backup card. The more the better!!

I never pay for anything using the credit card, not since my sister used hers in Phuket to pay their hotel bill and buy duty free at Phuket airport, then found out 6 weeks later it had been used in USA. The card did not leave her sight.

What happened to the days when you did not have to worry about your money etc, maybe old fashioned travellers cheques are not so bad after all haha.
Cathy

__________________
http://www.cathyandgarystravelpages.com

This is incredible Cathy and a real wake up for all of us. These plastic rip-offs are getting out of hand. And I agree, perhaps the TCs are the best way to go.
Anyway, I hope you have a great holiday.

That puts paid to my way of doing it!

I have 2 credit cards with different banks,one I use in Australia,and one with a small limit that I use for overseas transactions,the one with the small limit I dont care so much about but if my main one gets used I would worry big time because I hardly use it! Looks like that doesnt matter any more as its the ID theft that is allowing it to happen.

Den

I think in the future on this forum we should advise people not to use plastic overseas due to the rising frauds. My suggestion from now on is to carry a certain amount of cash (in a money belt, on you at all times) and TCs.
My mate from Perth had his TCs nicked at Koh Samui a few years back, he made a trip to Surat Thani, to the American Express office and the cop station, and had replacement TCs very quickly. I believe the whole ordeal is far more friendlier than dealing with a plastic fraud.