I know people who have done this (definitely not friends!). It happens to AI tourists all the time. Easy targets I guess.
Employees of places where you use your card take your number down (including resorts and gift shops). These are petty thieves and I doubt they have the knowledge to duplicate cards. Then they go to the gas station (or any store, although gas stations seem to be the most common) where their friend works and pass fraudulent transactions (often WITHOUT ever buying gas). They pocket the cash. This happens all the time in the DR. Some people have 10,000 pesos charges on their cards (too much to be a gas fill-up). Others just have many small charges.
Usually banks are very quick at pinpointing these discrepancies and advise the cardholder almost immediately. At least, because many people do not check their statements ; )
Good thing you caught it Charlielyn! It is a hassle to have to cancel your card...
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