My ATM Card Was Hacked

[JCMach1]

Seriously, I just got a charge on my ATM (we have Visa electron) for more that $1500. Thank goodness I get all transactions to my SMS on my mobile. Someone in merry old England just tried to rip me off.

Unfortunately, this is my account for bills, living, everything essentially.

I am seriously wondering what happened. I live in the UAE and this is an ATM card, not a normal credit card. I have never had to deal with the banks here concerning an issue like this and am in full panic mode.

They have temporarily frozen my card, but of course I am worried about everything now.

What's worse is I have to travel on Thursday and don't know how all of this is going to work out.

:scared:

Why worry, it's only what we have to live on... :(

[Crystal Clarity]

1. Gosh JCMach1

I am very sorry to hear that. Easier said then done I know, but try not to worry. It'll only make things worse. Sending good vibes your way and I very much hope that this is straightened out quickly w/no harm done. :hug:

[HopeHoops]

2. Just blame Obama - that's what the teabaggers and other Republicans do.

They get their information from FOX Noise and Rush so it MUST be true.

I'm not sure about the UAE, but in the US you can set up a new PIN in a matter of minutes (at a branch location) and use it strictly for debit card transactions. Not much to instill confidence, but it helps. You can also just get cash in the currency of your destination and that solves the problem but also requires the use of a money belt (I have one).

Seriously, good luck. You probably got nailed by an ATM skin. Those things are evil.

On Edit: If you set up the new PIN, have them cancel the VISA capability but retain the debit card/ATM capability. At least here that is possible. Who the hell knows how it works elsewhere. They'll actually issue a new card with a new PIN on the spot at my branch, and it isn't even a large bank.

[Crystal Clarity]

6. Probably a dumb question but

what do you mean by an 'ATM skin'?

[HopeHoops]

9. Not a dumb question at all. Read body of message...

The "skin" is basically a card reader that fits over the slot on the ATM. They're even using motion activated cameras to record the PIN as it is entered. Banks are on to it so they're your safest bet. The scam is usually set up in bars or convenience stores (where the scammers have a decoy person distract the clerk). It slips over the card reader, has a small memory chip, and records the information on the magnetic strip along with a timestamp. The camera timestamp is cross-referenced to the card information so they can create a duplicate and know the PIN. There are some REALLY fucked up puppies out there!

[Crystal Clarity]

14. Oh my, that's a scary thing.

I had no idea. But thanks for the info. Even if worrisone, it's good to know.

[HopeHoops]

15. Just stick to the bank ATMs.

[Crystal Clarity]

16. Good advice. Thanks! nt.

[HopeHoops]

17. Just curiousity - where are you "traveling" to?

[Crystal Clarity]

19. You mean moi?

:shrug:

[HopeHoops]

22. D'OH! No, got the thread-line confused. Sorry.

[Crystal Clarity]

24. No problem

Plus, at least we are keeping JC's thread kicked. Some useful info among the replies for everyone.

And good luck JC... I hope everything will be ok.

[JCMach1]

20. Nairobi to visit friends over Eid

So for me, this is the equivalent of trying to get this all taken care of a few days before Xmas, when all the managers are already on vacation.

[HopeHoops]

23. Yeah, I worked for a government contractor in the early 80's - 8 weeks of "NOBODY"

On the plus side, we got paid to show up and one of the guys brought in two jugs of eggnog every morning - one marked "X" and the other "XXX". :evilgrin:

[JCMach1]

21. This is the only ATM alternative- Visa electron... and going to branches is not a good option

as they all close by 1PM each day.

[PaDUer]

8. What's an atm skin? n/t

[HopeHoops]

10. See post #9 (above)

[MissHoneychurch]

3. OUCH

I hope you can sort out everything and that the banks don't give you too much of a hassle.

[siligut]

4. It is scary and irritating, sorry for your hassle.

In the US, if you report it right away, which it sounds like you did, the bank takes care of it and sends you a new card. The bank gets the money back from the bank that allowed the fraud to happen, so it goes back closer to the real culprit. It surely is a pain-in-the-a**, but should be taken care of very quickly and not interfere with your travel plans.

[PaDUer]

5. How did they hack your card?

Won't the bank issue you another card?
I've read articles similar to yours where hackers had set up tiny cameras at the atm site, but now they've updated all atm's with cameras because many people were getting mugged all hours of the day. Plus, our city now has cameras around that can reach many blocks away & actually zero in on anything..

[JCMach1]

11. It's a good question... Our bank actually makes the numbers very hard to read, so wasn't a camera

My guess employee (disgruntled?) dumps numbers and security info to friends in UK and makes a clone card.

Or, perhaps the number was picked-up by a skimmer.

[Betty88]

7. This has happened to me, it all worked out fine

HSBC got hacked and my checking account was nearly emptied out. They flagged it before I noticed, and canceled the card right away. The money was returned to my account within a week and a new card with new password and account number issued. Yes it did suck not to have the card for a few days but I lost nothing.

The having to travel part is what would make me crazy did you explain this to them? I bet they can put a rush on it if you "escalate" high enough, I love that word, it can work wonders. I also had them extend my credit line to cover the bills that I had just paid, and were going to bounce, they did that without a fee.

Good luck hope it works out for you.

[JCMach1]

12. Yeah, will probably go postal in the branch tomorrow morning...

as I have no choice but to travel on Thursday.

[TK421]

13. ugh..sorry to hear it. I'm sure this can be resolved through your

bank somehow :-( considering it was fraudulent activity.

Only question is how long it will take to get resolved...good luck

[Swede]

18. That happened to me,the cops called it "skimming".

They wouldn't tell me where it happened,but through some business contacts,I found out it happened at a gas station. They somehow got a franchise and had skimmed thousands of cards.

[jobycom]

25. Can it be used as a debit card without your PIN, or only at an ATM?

If it is a debit card, then they probably scanned the card at some business and reproduced it. Happens a lot.

If they also got your PIN, there are a few ways. Most have already been mentioned, but there's also the possibility they got the bank to reset your PIN to their choice, by having information about your account. You should see if the bank reset your PIN just before it happened. If they did, then maybe someone has enough information to trick your bank into believing they are you. That could be a huge mess.

[pitohui]

26. dont panic, you'll get a new card/number

been thru this any number of times, you are not responsible and most times we have received the replacement card/number w.in 24 to 48 hrs

most times we have not been able to figure out what happened or why but when the hacker is at a distant location like this doesn't matter anyway as it is easy to prove it wasn't us

one of the charges was made in new york while we were in honduras, we would not have found it so quickly but the credit card co. had already changed the acct number and prepared a new card for us by the time we found out about it