Comments on: Beware Card- and Cash-Trapping at the ATM

By: Travis

Travis — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:05:59 +0000

When I had a BoA credit card a few years ago I, too, noticed that they would send new cards more frequently than required by the expiration date. I worried (was relieved?) that they were preemptively changing my cards for fraud prevention or similar.

I have since heard rumor that card companies have discovered that sending new cards spurs spending. Is it because receiving a new card in the mail requires the cardholder to activate it, requiring a contact with the issuer? Does it just remind the cardholder that they have a credit card they could be using?

By: Totio Filipov

Totio Filipov — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:11:46 +0000

Thieves are getting more and more creative. It’s horrible to know that you can become a victim of an ATM trap without even suspecting no matter how careful you are. I am only withdrawing money from ATMs in banks. I think this is the best way to protect yourself.

By: S

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:47:53 +0000

Any more photos of cash trappers?

By: JCitizen

JCitizen — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 02:33:17 +0000

Thanks Brian; I made some disparaging remarks on that article discussion. I decided to fish for other opinions. That was one good article too! Not that all of your articles aren’t top notch!

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:06:23 +0000

Another fork-like device picture (very similar to the ones above, but for the ATM-theft-picture-collectors)
http://www.mortgagefinancegazette.com/fraud/atm-cash-claw-criminals-captured-by-special-police-unit/

By: Uzzi

Uzzi — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:39:06 +0000

You may want to read this on Fodor’s Travel Blog:

Citi Introduces New Hilton HHonors Credit Card
“Citibank released a new credit card this week [...] With chip technology and no foreign exchange fees, the new premium Hilton Visa is designed to appeal, in particular, to overseas travelers. Credit cards with magnetic strips have become harder to use outside the US since Europe began adopting chip-and-pin cards in 2004.”
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5795.html

Best Credit Cards for International Travel
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5428.html

By: Some person

Some person — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:28:23 +0000

You might want to checkout — http://www.news.com.au/money/banking/european-atm-skimming-machine-your-credit-cards-new-worst-enemy-in-australian-crime-first/story-e6frfmcr-1226521141277

By: Kevin MacMillen

Kevin MacMillen — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:05:34 +0000

Card-present credit card fraud has reduced in such a significant manner in Canada since the introduction of Chip/PIN security that it can only be chalked up to it being effective. It’s actually good for our Canadian operations because the crooks go where the money is the easiest – and that happens to be in the US where Chip / PIN has not yet been introduced.

By: SeymourB

SeymourB — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:44:37 +0000

I’m naturally skeptical, so I wonder how much of the drop in reported fraud after switching to chip & pin systems are due to banks changing their reporting policy.

Previously the fraud was assumed to be the work of third parties if the customer reported it, or at least was investigated in this way to recover funds. With the coming of chip & pin though, the system was assumed to be impenetrable, so the assumption was changed that if any charges occur they are the act of the cardholder. In other words, they’re no longer acts of fraud in the bank’s eyes. You, as a cardholder, may hold a different opinion of course.

By: denmike

denmike — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:18:07 +0000

If your ATM is returning your card BEFORE you enter your pin it’s because it’s using the magnetic stripe for your transaction. This is not possible with chip-based cards as a lot of processing is taking place inside the card after you enter your pin.