ATM ripoff

[John Gault]

On my last day in MGA I made two transactions on My ATM. I checked my Bank to see what the exchange rate was, and low, and behold there were four charges not two. I called the bank the next day, and learned that the two bogus charges were made 30 minutes after I did my two. I filed a claim, and I should know in a week what the outcome will be.

If I return to MGA it will be with cash not ATM cards. It seems you get a better rate from the money changers anyway. So far I have not heard of bogus bills in Nicaragua. I can't say the same for Colombia as it is becoming a problem with bad bills there.

Also I forgot to mention that when I use a ATM machine I always cover with my free hand when I type in my pin. I know they can put a device on a ATM to steal your numbers, but I wonder how they got my pin number?

[Elropaazul]

On my last day in MGA I made two transactions on My ATM. I checked my Bank to see what the exchange rate was, and low, and behold there were four charges not two. I called the bank the next day, and learned that the two bogus charges were made 30 minutes after I did my two. I filed a claim, and I should know in a week what the outcome will be.

If I return to MGA it will be with cash not ATM cards. It seems you get a better rate from the money changers anyway. So far I have not heard of bogus bills in Nicaragua. I can't say the same for Colombia as it is becoming a problem with bad bills there.

Also I forgot to mention that when I use a ATM machine I always cover with my free hand when I type in my pin. I know they can put a device on a ATM to steal your numbers, but I wonder how they got my pin number?Where did you use atms? Outside of shopping centres, the airport and the inside of banks is riskier.

Strange sequence of transactions? Over your daily limit maybe.

[Dirty Willy]

On my last day in MGA I made two transactions on My ATM. I checked my Bank to see what the exchange rate was, and low, and behold there were four charges not two. I called the bank the next day, and learned that the two bogus charges were made 30 minutes after I did my two. I filed a claim, and I should know in a week what the outcome will be.

If I return to MGA it will be with cash not ATM cards. It seems you get a better rate from the money changers anyway. So far I have not heard of bogus bills in Nicaragua. I can't say the same for Colombia as it is becoming a problem with bad bills there.

Also I forgot to mention that when I use a ATM machine I always cover with my free hand when I type in my pin. I know they can put a device on a ATM to steal your numbers, but I wonder how they got my pin number?One thing that can help is just to make dollar withdrawls. Very few place won't accept dollars.

Also some machines charge extra fees that others don't. For instance in Plaza Inter there are 4 or 5 machines right next to each other and a couple of them charge maybe $3 or so and the others nothing. I think I only learned that through trying both. You live and learn when you travel.

As far as the bogus transactions on the machine, that's strange. Even if someone got your pin, they would have to get your card. Keep us posted on what you find out.

[John Gault]

On my last day in MGA I made two transactions on My ATM. I checked my Bank to see what the exchange rate was, and low, and behold there were four charges not two. I called the bank the next day, and learned that the two bogus charges were made 30 minutes after I did my two. I filed a claim, and I should know in a week what the outcome will be.

If I return to MGA it will be with cash not ATM cards. It seems you get a better rate from the money changers anyway. So far I have not heard of bogus bills in Nicaragua. I can't say the same for Colombia as it is becoming a problem with bad bills there.

Also I forgot to mention that when I use a ATM machine I always cover with my free hand when I type in my pin. I know they can put a device on a ATM to steal your numbers, but I wonder how they got my pin number?Just got word from my bank that they refunded the money that was stolen from my account.

On another note has anyone heard that the crack down on P4P has been eased? These elections coming up are always a pain in the butt for Mongers in Latin America.

[John Gault]

Last trip here I got ripped off on my ATM card, but I got my money back when I filed a claim.

This trip I first used my card (a different one) and I made a transaction on 10/19. On 10/18 I'm showing two bogus transactions. Then on the next day another phony one. I called and that card is now cancelled. From now on in Nicaragua I will only use cash. All the other Countrys I have visited I have never had a problem. I always shield with my hand when I put in my password. Anyway I got a better rate with cash then with the ATM.

[World Travel 69]

What are the name of the bank's you used.

When you put your card in, look at the slot, make sure there is not something glued around it. Cover the mirrors. Make sure no one is standing near by. There are pocket card readers on the market.

I will be there in January and don't want to use the same banks you did.


Last trip here I got ripped off on my ATM card, but I got my money back when I filed a claim.

This trip I first used my card (a different one) and I made a transaction on 10/19. On 10/18 I'm showing two bogus transactions. Then on the next day another phony one. I called and that card is now cancelled. From now on in Nicaragua I will only use cash. All the other Countrys I have visited I have never had a problem. I always shield with my hand when I put in my password. Anyway I got a better rate with cash then with the ATM.

[John Gault]

What are the name of the bank's you used.

When you put your card in, look at the slot, make sure there is not something glued around it. Cover the mirrors. Make sure no one is standing near by. There are pocket card readers on the market.

I will be there in January and don't want to use the same banks you did.After being sure not to use any more ATM's in this country I was running out of cash so I went to a different bank in Granada, and only took out 2, 000 cords.

Well I just checked out my balance on line and of the $600 I had left after my transaction they robbed me of almost the whole amount. TD bank is great. They let me file my dispute on line so in 10 banking days I should get my money back. Again the same tricks were used. I made the withdraw on Oct. 28th, but the bogus charges were made on the 18th. 20, and 26th. Again I shielded my pin when I entered it in. No one was in the area also. As far as what bank in Granada all I can say it was right in the heart of town. I felt something was fishy when I asked for a reciept, and none was given. This happened before when I was robbed.

My main reason for this report is to strongly warn everybody in Nicaragua to only use cash, as this is the third time I have been robbed in the last two trips. On second thought fuck this backward bullshit, and I will go elsewhere. I would rather be robbed in person than this crap with the ATM cards.

[Chinchuliar]

Weird. I've used ATMs with no problem at numerous branches of Banpro and the odd one of BAC.

[BeersTerry]

Don't know how your bank is but I tend to prepay a fixed amount on my credit card (in order to avoid interest charges) and do withdrawals on my credit card.

I was told that if they get your money from your bank account, you have to fight to get it back.

If they rip off a credit card, well it is not your money but the credit card company that has to investigate the fraud as it is their money.

[Dickhead]

In the US, credit card companies will not let you create a credit balance, in my fairly extensive experience. Don't know if you are from the US. The other issue is that you then normally pay higher cash advance fees with credit cards vs. ATM debit cards.

[John Gault]

I just googled ATM scams, and got a real education on the tricks they use. It is really scary.

One thing I may do as I like to have some local money when I get off the plane is to have just a $100 or so in my account, and then take out that amount. Then the cocksuckers will have nothing to steal after my transaction goes thru.

As far as some of you guys not believing it can happen, well it has happened to me three times in two different citys, and three different banks.

I post this info for other fellow members, as myself I am done being fucked. I will most likely get my money back, but meanwhile it is a big pain in the ass.

[World Travel 69]

I appreciate the information you have posted.

Two of my buddies and I got taken in Venezuela. These were not ATM problems, but just CCs transactions. I only used mine 6 times. Most at the hotels we stayed in and one at airport and one at a beach store.

They charged over $5000 on my account.

They bought hamburgers, car parts, withdrew money at the Casinos, etc.


I just googled ATM scams, and got a real education on the tricks they use. It is really scary.

One thing I may do as I like to have some local money when I get off the plane is to have just a $100 or so in my account, and then take out that amount. Then the cocksuckers will have nothing to steal after my transaction goes thru.

As far as some of you guys not believing it can happen, well it has happened to me three times in two different citys, and three different banks.

I post this info for other fellow members, as myself I am done being fucked. I will most likely get my money back, but meanwhile it is a big pain in the ass.

[John Gault]

You won't believe this but I'm at the airport in the USA waiting for my connection, and went on line to my bank and found almost $600 in ATM charges. This is on a card I never used this trip. I used it once last July with no problems. Look at my posts in the ATM ripoff section, and you will see the other problems with two other cards.

Under no circumstane bring ATM cards to Nicaragua. I would of caught it earlier, but I could not access the account out of the country.

How the Fuck did they do this?

[BeersTerry]

Having a credit card with a pin allows me to access any ATM in any country for local currency as soon as I touch down. I do carry a credit balance on my credit card on occasion but do not make a habit of it. The currency translation rates are about par with bank rates with fees being about $2 per transaction.

My friend has been telling me to buy a new $10 sleeve to shield my credit cards / debit cards etc and crooks can steal your info electronically with the cards never leaving your wallet.

[Cachorro]

What's the nature of the charges you found? Retail purchases? ATM cash withdrawals?

What location did the bogus transactions come from? Nicaragua?


You won't believe this but I'm at the airport in the USA waiting for my connection, and went on line to my bank and found almost $600 in ATM charges. This is on a card I never used this trip. I used it once last July with no problems. Look at my posts in the ATM ripoff section, and you will see the other problems with two other cards.

Under no circumstane bring ATM cards to Nicaragua. I would of caught it earlier, but I could not access the account out of the country.

How the Fuck did they do this?

[John Gault]

What's the nature of the charges you found? Retail purchases? ATM cash withdrawals?

What location did the bogus transactions come from? Nicaragua?ATM withdrawals cash, and all in Granada.

Now at home I'm dealing with the paper work involved with three different ATM cards to hope to get my money back. I'm told from two to four weeks before I'll know if I'm getting my money back.

[Formerlybnc]

John Galt, any news on this? I am heading down there first of Jan.


ATM withdrawals cash, and all in Granada.

Now at home I'm dealing with the paper work involved with three different ATM cards to hope to get my money back. I'm told from two to four weeks before I'll know if I'm getting my money back.

[John Gault]

John Galt, any news on this? I am heading down there first of Jan.Of the three cards that I had money stolen from me I only was repaid back by one card. Of course it was the smallest one. My stinking Credit Union did not even let me know they were not refunding my money. After over a month went by I had to contact them to get the bad news.

If I return to Nicaragua it will be with cash only. The money changers that I have delt with gave better rates than the ATM did, and no worry.

[Ready Ru]

Of the three cards that I had money stolen from me I only was repaid back by one card. Of course it was the smallest one. My stinking Credit Union did not even let me know they were not refunding my money. After over a month went by I had to contact them to get the bad news.

If I return to Nicaragua it will be with cash only. The money changers that I have delt with gave better rates than the ATM did, and no worry.No offense, but why would you use anything but cash down there, even in the better establishments? Its a culture of corruption you are dealing with. You wouldn't give your credit card info to some seedy guy trying to sell you a watch on the street corner back home would you? Kinda the same thing. I'm going back in a couple of weeks. Last time, I picked up two cuties in a little "casino" in Masaya and kept them for 3 days with me. So many chicas, so little time.

[Enperadore]

Sorry to hear that but I have been using US ATM cards for over 6 years now in granada and managua and so far no issue. As a matter of fact only issue I ever had was with my Citi nicaraguan credit card being abused when I was in the US but that got resolved by Citi. In granada the best exchange rate is at a place called MANI, which is a bicycle place about 2 blocks down from BAC. I never use the coyotes, their rate is not good enough. I use the ATM at the BAC and at the esso gas stations in granada, masaya and managua without any hitch ever. I guess I been very lucky. By the way, capital one has the best deal by not charging a international fee (3%) like most banks.


Of the three cards that I had money stolen from me I only was repaid back by one card. Of course it was the smallest one. My stinking Credit Union did not even let me know they were not refunding my money. After over a month went by I had to contact them to get the bad news.

If I return to Nicaragua it will be with cash only. The money changers that I have delt with gave better rates than the ATM did, and no worry.