ATM ripoff

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?