This is a Ridiculously bad month for me. One of my motorbikes broke the other bike got stolen and both my bank accounts were broken into to. It must be something I did in my past life.

Anyway, I have 2 atm cards that I use to do all my monetary transactions in Thailand.1 American capital one card1 Thai kasikorn bank cardThis month both my accounts were broken into and $ withdrawn from ATM with pin and card.The weird thing is, I dont reveal my pin (different for each card) and still have both cards on my person.This thief somehow made copies of my card and got my pin. I have a good chance of getting my money back from the American Bank but doubt I'll get it from the Thai bank. Fortunately it was a sum I can afford to loose. In any case... note to all those who use cards in the land of Thai. Keep one hand over the keyboard when you type your pin in. Try not to expose the # of yr card as you insert it into the ATM. Those bastards hide cameras somewhere, spot yr card # and your pin. Make a copy of yr card and use it to steal money.Be careful.

Scary tings...

I'm mainly cash so quite lucky in those respects.

Touch wood.

Damn! Card skimming is big business!

Vlad if you need to borrow some funds, I'll be able to spare you 1 satang or 2! he he

The good thing is I never left any money on my bank account! hahaha......

Scary! sorry to hear that.

Many ATM set anti-spy photo cover with the keyboard in HK nowadays.

We live in dangerous times...sigh

use ATMs inside the bank and not those outside....

That happened in DK also. A pizzeria owner copied all his clients pincodes (here we can pay with card even when you buy a banana) and took money from them but not for long he got caught.

Happy New Year!!

Here's what I do: I keep two savings accounts at the same (Thai) bank. One account can be accessed by ATM; the other not. I keep most of the money in the non-ATM-accessible account. When I need to make a withdrawal by ATM, I transfer some money from the non-ATM-accessible account to the ATM-accessible account online first. Then I withdraw the money by ATM - but only from ATMs inside of a bank branch (as Wicked suggested) - and only during bank working hours. All of this might seem like a lot of trouble, but it's better than losing money to wily thieves.

Wicked is right on. Or at least one on the where the ATM is mounted to the bank wall as crooks are less likely to mess with it than a standalone ATM.

Wish you a better 2010.

I agree with Sukhumvit_Farang, and that's what I do as well;)

Sorry to hear that V. Wish next year is better..

I dont like when paying bill in Thailand..

when they took your card and then walk away with it..

come back agian later and we have to sign..

Because we cannot see what they do with the card.

All number on the card and all that.

Hey.. Happy New Year!

Here is one way that they do it: http://www.snopes.com/fraud/atm/atmcamera.asp

I always give the card slot a little pull to see if it is real or a fake one has been fitted over it.

Just become poor and all your worries will be gone!

Seriously, though...sorry to hear that. 2010 is all uphill from here

Bad news!

Wipe your hand over the front of the card slot before putting your card in; this may help to see if anything has been added to the front of the slot. A popular scam is the insertion of a "Lebanese Loop" which will cause your card to be retained. Secondly, look at the top rear inner angle of the ATM cabinet; if there is a long rectangular (grey) shape sticking out along the back - it's probably an added camera.

Hope things improve in 2010 DC.

Skimming is too easy these days! Bastards.

*BIG HUGS*

I know for sure you'll be very lucky from Feb onwards next year though! There will be one pretty lady brining u all the best luck in the world hehe

Sorry to hear that. I do use the ATM's and I worry about it each time I do. Best of luck for everything in the New year, and I'm sure we will meet up sometime soon

i am ATM

Yea, that blows, something similar happened to me, except they mustve been kids or incredibly dumb. They wedged a bit of paper in the card slot, then as my card tried to come out it got stuck, so I stood there and phoned my bank, cancelled my card and they got away with nothing.

Its a shame this guy was more intelligent and actually gets away with this.

I guess its a bad time to say Happy New Year.

Chin up.

Sorry for you. I am always nervous when I use ATM in Thailand, wondering if that machine will eat my card or something else will happen... Anyway, I read all the comments, many good advices here. Thanks for sharing.

I use only TMB and only at their banks. Sorry to hear about the card fiacisco. Also another quick learning curve for ya. If you go to a older type of debit machine do a quick pull on the front of the machine where you insert your card cause if it a "tampered" machine. It will feel like it wants to pull apart.

You cant always trust the ATMs inside the branch out of hours if you have to swipe your card to gain access into the ATM section. In the u.k the thieving gits have started fitting a swipe card copier on the other side of the door so when you try one and dont get access try the other and then get in. they then use a cam or spy from outside to get your pin.

I read they have small cameras they hide right on the atm which look all official but scan your card and video your number.

happens here a lot,you have to look closely at the ATM you are going to use.The crooks put an skimmer (scanner) over the card slot,and it copies all the card data.They come back later and retrieve the device,make copies of the cards,and then have a shopping spree. When discovered here you call the cops and they camp out to nail the asshats when they goto recover it. They were so bold here to swap key pads at local stores debit machines by getting an accomplice to distract the clerk.