Credit card scam!! SDQ

miozio · #1 07-28-2009, 12:31 PM

Came to DR with a newly issued credit card, never used it before. The first thing, i used it in Banco Popular in Sosua downtown to withdraw pesos from the desk, not machine! The other time at Nacional car rental at the airport of POP. Both places required my id obviously, so they had my data for purchasing online. Banco Popular took the photocopy of my passport AND strangly enough, THE PHOTOCOPY of my CREDIT CARD!!!! I have an SMS service with my russian bank that all the transactions must be confirmed by me. A week after my visit to the bank, I got a declined transaction for 70 mexican pesos, stating "Transp Tamaulipas"70.00MXN declined"
I thought that banks sould be reliable but hey!!! Do they have to take a photocopy of my credit card? I am more than sure it was Banco Popular to do it, not sure it Nacional car rental took the card copy!
Its a small sum of 70 mexican pesos, should be around $7, they collect 1000 of these card details and take $7 from each. Is there any place people can trust here with their credit card?

kacuni · #2 07-28-2009, 12:56 PM

Why didn't you use the machine in front of the bank? I always use this ATM when I'm there.

El Tigre · #3 07-28-2009, 12:58 PM

I also use the ATM. Only once or twice have I gone to the register.

I guess you can never be too cautious.

miozio · #4 07-28-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kacuni

Why didn't you use the machine in front of the bank? I always use this ATM when I'm there.

I was buying a car, the sum was a bit more than inserting the card 30 times... the good thing i didn't lose anything as the bank i am with has a perfect SMS service. I wrote this post to warn the others!!

william webster · #5 07-28-2009, 01:17 PM

I had fraudulent charges on my American Express card in March. I only used it at the SDQ airport - Thrifty rentaCar, I think.

They start w/ a small purchase then hit it bigger.

I had a phone card purchase then airline tix to So. America and two suites in Buenos Aires - total was a bit over $2000.

They too took a copy of the card.

You just have to monitor all your card activity - constantly!

El Tigre · #6 07-28-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william webster

You just have to monitor all your card activity - constantly!

Couldn't have said it better! When I'm there I always check my account to make sure that they charge the right amount to my card. When I am home in the US I always check no matter what. I am just used to checking my account online as part of my daily web surfing activities.

miozio · #7 07-28-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william webster

I had fraudulent charges on my American Express card in March. I only used it at the SDQ airport - Thrifty rentaCar, I think.

They start w/ a small purchase then hit it bigger.

I had a phone card purchase then airline tix to So. America and two suites in Buenos Aires - total was a bit over $2000.

They too took a copy of the card.

You just have to monitor all your card activity - constantly!

National car rental in my case! But its one of the biggest rental worldwide companies!

Are they allowed to take photocopies of your cc in banks and any other places? I think its illigal!!!!!

mountainannie · #8 07-28-2009, 02:21 PM

I think that we all have to realize that it is not the businesses themselves that are running these scams but the EMPLOYEES who themselves are paid well, not a whole lot.... and the temptation to steal, when they are in this position, when it must be so easy for them to just hand off the copy of a copy of some numbers to someone... and well, hey,,,, the person who is getting scammed is just a foreigner or just a tourist or something.....

I wonder if there is some way to protect oneself... such as asking for the manager's name or signature if there is a copy involved or making sure that the Branch and name of the business is posted?

This just can't be good for business here....

pkaide1 · #9 07-28-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miozio

Came to DR with a newly issued credit card, never used it before. The first thing, i used it in Banco Popular in Sosua downtown to withdraw pesos from the desk, not machine! The other time at Nacional car rental at the airport of POP. Both places required my id obviously, so they had my data for purchasing online. Banco Popular took the photocopy of my passport AND strangly enough, THE PHOTOCOPY of my CREDIT CARD!!!! I have an SMS service with my russian bank that all the transactions must be confirmed by me. A week after my visit to the bank, I got a declined transaction for 70 mexican pesos, stating "Transp Tamaulipas"70.00MXN declined"
I thought that banks sould be reliable but hey!!! Do they have to take a photocopy of my credit card? I am more than sure it was Banco Popular to do it, not sure it Nacional car rental took the card copy!
Its a small sum of 70 mexican pesos, should be around $7, they collect 1000 of these card details and take $7 from each. Is there any place people can trust here with their credit card?

Just to make it simple, do not use a credit card anywhere in this country.

abe · #10 07-28-2009, 03:16 PM

Or use one with a very low credit limit, and pay it off (or down) on-line frequently from another account while you're on vacation.

That's what I do.

It won't stop fraud, especially in the DR, but it will keep the risk for all concerned manageable.