Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Dcrist0527]

As with anything technology marches on. Most skimmers now are internal to the machine, so no way of identifying them from the outside like before. It is a really big problem in 'Merica now with gas stations, in fact the US Secret Service recommends you pay cash for filling up gas. (There was a USA Today article around the 4th of July.) Also some of the new ones use Bluetooth to transmit the data, so thieves do not have to go back to retrieve the data.

I responded to Oosik via PM but thought I would share here too. This is something I'm familiar with in my day job. LOL.

Once Sailor has some great advice. These skimmers are largely undetectable to everyday people. As mentioned, US gas stations are very common. Two other things to add:

The timeframe for the fraud to occur varies greatly. Often times, it takes a day or two for bogus charges to show up. But sometimes it takes months. Most often, they use the information to create a clone. Depending on the organized crime outfit that captures the data, they'll sell it on the black market. The Russian mob and Eastern Europe crime families are very efficient with this. (These are not typically run by street criminals.).

The other thing to keep in mind is where there is a skimmer, there is very likely something or someone watching you type your PIN. That could be someone many yards away with a zoom lens or a camera. As mentioned, the bluetooth or wireless network function is common. But the crooks that recover the device utilize cameras.

This scheme is significantly underreported and I'm not trying to alarm anyone but you do need to be aware anywhere you swipe your card.

[ClamSlammer]

Also some of the new ones use Bluetooth to transmit the data, so thieves do not have to go back to retrieve the data.

LOL you know Bluetooth can only transmit data an extremely short distance, like 10 meters.

[Once Sailor]

About a month ago I visited Tijuana and due to a terrible lack of fiscal restraint I needed more pesos so I had to use an ATM, something I had managed to avoid up up until this trip for this exact reason. A week ago I was surprised to be suddenly spending money in Haiti. The ne'er do-well tried three withdrawals and only one made it through before my credit union slammed the door on my account. My loss is fully covered but it could have been a real pain if I were still traveling and needed more cash.

I had gone to the lobby at Cascadas to use the machine there but it was out of service so one of the staff showed me the ATM lobby to the right as you face the main Cascadas entrance. I gave the machines a good looking over but could not see anything obvious, yet it is almost certain that that is where the card was compromised: I had not used it since leaving Thailand a month and a half earlier. I know Buddhists are supposed to be patient but that would really be pushing it.

Just a FYI thing as I have no idea what I could have done differently: Kind of hard to take the thing apart to look for a skimmer. Well, maybe not THAT hard: Obviously someone else took it apart to put it there.

As with anything technology marches on. Most skimmers now are internal to the machine, so no way of identifying them from the outside like before. It is a really big problem in 'Merica now with gas stations, in fact the US Secret Service recommends you pay cash for filling up gas. (There was a USA Today article around the 4th of July.) Also some of the new ones use Bluetooth to transmit the data, so thieves do not have to go back to retrieve the data.

[LovesToSploog]

About a month ago I visited Tijuana and due to a terrible lack of fiscal restraint I needed more pesos so I had to use an ATM, something I had managed to avoid up up until this trip for this exact reason. A week ago I was surprised to be suddenly spending money in Haiti. The ne'er do-well tried three withdrawals and only one made it through before my credit union slammed the door on my account. My loss is fully covered but it could have been a real pain if I were still traveling and needed more cash.

I had gone to the lobby at Cascadas to use the machine there but it was out of service so one of the staff showed me the ATM lobby to the right as you face the main Cascadas entrance. I gave the machines a good looking over but could not see anything obvious, yet it is almost certain that that is where the card was compromised: I had not used it since leaving Thailand a month and a half earlier. I know Buddhists are supposed to be patient but that would really be pushing it.

Just a FYI thing as I have no idea what I could have done differently: Kind of hard to take the thing apart to look for a skimmer. Well, maybe not that hard: Obviously someone else took it apart to put it there.

I was going to write about this. I've got a card specifically for international money withdrawal so it's easy to see where I pull out money. Recently I got an alert from my bank saying my card was being used in San Antonio, I live in California. My bank was able to reimburse and close the card, but I only withdraw from big banks and perhaps I might have gotten my card skim there too but this reinsured my idea that the atms outside Hong Kong have skimmers and it would make sense since I needed the money then, I can imagine others having the same urgency, so it's an easy target.

I told my bank what I could do to avoid this but they told me it happens. For me, it would just be using big Mexican banks and withdrawing all my money so they can be declined automatically. Nonetheless you don't need to take the machine apart, you can easily install a skimmer and a small camera, just do quick YouTube search, it's crazy.

[Oosik]

About a month ago I visited Tijuana and due to a terrible lack of fiscal restraint I needed more pesos so I had to use an ATM, something I had managed to avoid up up until this trip for this exact reason. A week ago I was surprised to be suddenly spending money in Haiti. The ne'er do-well tried three withdrawals and only one made it through before my credit union slammed the door on my account. My loss is fully covered but it could have been a real pain if I were still traveling and needed more cash.

I had gone to the lobby at Cascadas to use the machine there but it was out of service so one of the staff showed me the ATM lobby to the right as you face the main Cascadas entrance. I gave the machines a good looking over but could not see anything obvious, yet it is almost certain that that is where the card was compromised: I had not used it since leaving Thailand a month and a half earlier. I know Buddhists are supposed to be patient but that would really be pushing it.

Just a FYI thing as I have no idea what I could have done differently: Kind of hard to take the thing apart to look for a skimmer. Well, maybe not THAT hard: Obviously someone else took it apart to put it there.

[Artisttyp]

This looks like the second floor of Galerias shopping mall next to the big Caliente. This place is frequented by a good number of "normal" people. Yes that includes mongers as well.

It happened this morning. I also noticed a narco mantra or two mentioned in the papers.

This is where that new Brazilian restaurant that people are talking about is located.

* I wish photos loaded up onto the thread. It would the post so much more appealing.

TIJUANA, Baja California (GH).

Un hombre fue ejecutado con arma de fuego esta maana en el segundo piso de una plaza comercial, ubicada el bulevar Agua Caliente.

La vctima qued tendida a unos metros del rea del cine, con lesiones de bala en cabeza why espalda.

Hasta el momento no se ha localizado a LOS presuntos responsables.

1897799-G. JPG.

Foto: Gustavo Surez.

[MongerHunger]

Very sad story.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-N...=4071532982151

[MongerHunger]

Statistics show murders on the rise. Among those killed were 27,691 Mexicans, 313 foreigners and 3,170 people of unspecified origin.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-N...tm_medium=tn_v

[MongerHunger]

When I was in La Zona Norte Friday I stopped in oxxo on Coahuila for a couple of cold brews and seen the front page of a Mexican newspaper saying that there were 6 murders in Tijuana between Wednesday night and Thursday early morning. The newspaper caught my eye as I walked out the front door.

[Ctytek]

Why don't you get "Tijuana Police Department" vest and a fake badge while you're at at? I think you'd simply be better off not wearing anything that attracts unwanted attention.

I see lots of talk of threatening to dial 078 to deter unsavory police activity. Would getting a shirt or sweater that says Tourist Assistance Dial 078 in huge letters on the front and back work?

[Baxter Slade]

I see lots of talk of threatening to dial 078 to deter unsavory police activity. Would getting a shirt or sweater that says Tourist Assistance Dial 078 in huge letters on the front and back work?

I'm thinking that might work. Please try it and report back.

[Flyer47]

I see lots of talk of threatening to dial 078 to deter unsavory police activity. Would getting a shirt or sweater that says Tourist Assistance Dial 078 in huge letters on the front and back work?

[Artisttyp]

Thanks to " Chiquito " from the other website for bringing this to our attention. For most mongers visiting the zona you probably won't find yourself in this area, but for Tijuana regulars like myself, this is an area I routinely find myself in. This is roughly two block from the last shooting on 4th and Madero. I personally know that there is a drug spot in the area. I won't say where for good reasons but anyway here is the story:

Ejecutan a hombre en la zona Centro de Tijuana.

TIJUANA, Baja California (GH).

Un hombre fue ejecutado a plena luz del thea en la calle Segunda de la Zona Centro, esta tarde.

El ataque se registr entre las avenidas Francisco I. Madero why Miguel Negrete, frente a una bodega.

El cuerpo de la vctima qued tendido en la banqueta, donde fue declarada como fallecido.

[Artisttyp]

CORRECTION:

Ave Madero NOT between Revolucion.

[TomJackin]

That one block on Constitution (between the alley and Primera) has some of the most dangerous women I know.

Funny stuff!

The only hazard on that stretch are the monkeys!