[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;2792703]I use my credit cards at all restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, uber rides, and termas in RJ and all restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, clinicas, and boates in SP. I have never been ripped off. On extremely rare occasions (like once every 3 or 4 years) I might see a fraudulent charge on my account. I report it to the bank, they freeze the account, remove the charge, and I move on to different credit card until I go home. So where is the risk? There is none.
Debit cards are another story. I am very careful in the use of my debit cards. I never use them for purchases. I bring many CC's with me on a trip, but I only bring 2 debit cards. My main debit card is issued by Schwab. I only use my Schwab debit card to withdraw cash from my Schwab checking account. I only use ATM machines inside the 2 major Brazilian banks and 5-star hotels. All ATM fees and bank charges are reimbursed to my Schwab account at the end of the month. I also carry a backup debit card issued by Needham Bank (which is zero ATM fees as well) just in case something happens to my Schwab debit card like it is stolen, lost, or destroyed. Cash is for the girls and those rare situations where a CC is not accepted.[/QUOTE]I only have 2 debit cards. I defaulted on all my credit card debt during the pandemic. Seemed like a good time to screw the banks. That being said, I have never used my cards in 15 years of mongering at restaurants, stores, or hooker places like termas or casas. Only used them at ATM machines and hotels when I check in. So far no fraud from using at those 2 places. Want to branch out this trip and rely less on ATM withdrawal and cambios. I can separate checking from savings, so I can transfer money from savings to checking as needed.
