Crime, Safety, and the Police

Very sad story.

[URL]https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/07/10/American-tourist-killed-by-stray-bullet-in-Mexico-City/2211531276388/?st_rec=4071532982151[/URL]

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.

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.

[QUOTE=Oosik;2209369]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.[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=Oosik;2209369]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.[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=OnceSailor;2209560]Also some of the new ones use Bluetooth to transmit the data, so thieves do not have to go back to retrieve the data.[/QUOTE]LOL you know Bluetooth can only transmit data an extremely short distance, like 10 meters.

[QUOTE=OnceSailor;2209560]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.[/QUOTE]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.

Either its a coincidence or there a spike in such fraud.

I was there couple weeks back and I got a fraud notification from my bank today. Someone withdrew cash from ATM using my card and pin in LA.

I had used my card in Cascadas lobby and in the ATM near the rear entrance to Cascadas in the alley, so its either in the hotel itself or nearby.

[QUOTE=ClamSlammer;2209561]LOL you know Bluetooth can only transmit data an extremely short distance, like 10 meters.[/QUOTE]Yes, bluetooth is used. They need to be reasonably close in many cases to see your PIN. They also use a private network, (like a private wifi network).

[QUOTE=HornyIndo;2209684]Either its a coincidence or there a spike in such fraud.

I was there couple weeks back and I got a fraud notification from my bank today. Someone withdrew cash from ATM using my card and pin in LA.

I had used my card in Cascadas lobby and in the ATM near the rear entrance to Cascadas in the alley, so its either in the hotel itself or nearby.[/QUOTE]Are people scared of getting robbed, is that why they don't carry enough cash to cover their expenses in Tijuana and have to use risky ATM machines that are targeted in a high traffic area?

I advised bros to use reputable national big bank branches in known safe areas. Some bros responded with places that were the safest with no issues. I personally do not use the ATM machines or swipe my card anywhere. The amount of cash I bring across the border is sufficient for all of my transactions.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2209841]Yes, bluetooth is used. They need to be reasonably close in many cases to see your PIN. They also use a private network, (like a private wifi network).[/QUOTE]Perhaps so but the reason the OP provided for using Bluetooth is obviously not correct.

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

The thieves would have to go back to within a 10 meter radius of the crime scene to retrieve data. That's pretty much going back to the scene of the crime. The OP is insinuating that Bluetooth can transmit the data back to their crime lab 20 miles away, which is certainly not true.

[QUOTE=ClamSlammer;2209561]LOL you know Bluetooth can only transmit data an extremely short distance, like 10 meters.[/QUOTE]No.

From: [URL]https://www.sans.edu/cyber-research/security-laboratory/article/bluetooth[/URL].

Misconception 1: "Bluetooth is a short-range technology".

Many organizations disregard the security of Bluetooth networks as a concern because they consider Bluetooth to be a short-range technology. Bluetooth technology is not limited to short-range connections however, offering three ranges of standard range connectivity, as shown in figure 1. With class 1 Bluetooth devices transmitting at 100 mW, which have a standard range of approximately 100 meters or 328 feet, range is comparable to that of an 802.11 be WLAN device. Class 1 devices are most commonly implemented in devices where power is plentiful, such as laptop and desktop systems.

So ATM machines and gas pumps have the power to transmit further. Phones and mobile devices use the shorter range bluetooth to save on power consumption.

[QUOTE=ClamSlammer;2209887]Perhaps so but the reason the OP provided for using Bluetooth is obviously not correct.

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

The thieves would have to go back to within a 10 meter radius of the crime scene to retrieve data. That's pretty much going back to the scene of the crime. The OP is insinuating that Bluetooth can transmit the data back to their crime lab 20 miles away, which is certainly not true.[/QUOTE]Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. There are various methods but any type requires two steps. 1. Capturing card data. That is done by Bluetooth (which, yes, is typically nearby. 10-20 ft is more than enough for an unsuspecting victim), a private "WiFi-like network" or recovering the actual device. I can assure you, retrieving the device is quite common. They don't leave the devices in very long. No more than a day or so. In the right ATM, they capture hundreds of card data. 2. They need some way to observe the PIN being entered. If it's Bluetooth or WiFi, that could be someone watching, a zoom lens, or camera. Or, if they leave it there for a day, they'll set a camera. Believe it or not, it's not uncommon for that camera to be in plain sight of the ATM. It's not terribly obvious but still noticeable.

I know we are picking on Cascadas but I promise you, this occurs a lot in the US. Gas stations are most common but they routinely use big bank driveup ATMs, and even the verifone machines you use at a POS like Target. Or even inside the bank itself. It is a significant issue. Thankfully, card companies and banks and in many cases, retail stores (I. E. Target) generally reimburse for this. However, those fraud costs are ultimately passed on.

We all need to be mindful of just how dangerous Mexico can be. !!

Airlines cut back on flights to Cancun, other tourist spots in Mexico after reports of violence, travelers blacking out.

([URL]https://www.dallasnews.com/life/travel/2018/08/05/airlines-cut-back-flights-cancun-tourist-spots-mexico-after-reports-violence-travelers-blacking[/URL]).

That is the key. Bring enough cash for your stay. Lock the cash in hotel safe. Take enough with you each day, for your daily use. Problem solved.

[QUOTE=MongerHunger;2209866]I advised bros to use reputable national big bank branches in known safe areas. Some bros responded with places that were the safest with no issues. I personally do not use the ATM machines or swipe my card anywhere. The amount of cash I bring across the border is sufficient for all of my transactions.[/QUOTE]