From swiping cards at gas stations to tapping smartphones at checkout counters, the ease of making purchases has never been greater. Tourists in Bali are being warned of a new fraud on the island. While Bali is known for being a safe tourist destination, the island’s annual high season begins, and there is always a slight increase in crime against foreigners. Following a recent scam involving card skimmer devices, they are advised to only use authorised ATMs for cash withdrawals.
What Is Card Skimming?
Lurking beneath the surface of this convenience lies a pervasive threat, card skimming. A recent card skimming device scam has advised visitors to Bali to only use authorised ATMs for cash withdrawals. A 35-year-old Ukrainian lady was found guilty of tampering with ATMs in 2022 and fined IDR 100,000,000 (INR 518.75), according to reports from the local media. She was also deported.
Criminals can steal credit or debit card information during transactions by using card skimming. Installing unauthorised equipment on ATMs or other card payment terminals is known as skimming. These devices read magnetic stripe data from cards, including account numbers and personal identification numbers (PINs), without the cardholder’s knowledge. The financial security of individuals is seriously jeopardised when the stolen data is used to make illegal purchases or counterfeit cards. Due to thieves stealing card numbers and personal information from ATMs, tourists in Bali are at risk. When customers plug their cards into these covertly placed devices on computers, data is captured, potentially resulting in fraudulent transactions and compromised accounts.
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Can It Be Prevented?
- Make sure you utilise ATMs within reputable businesses and carefully check them for evidence of tampering before using them, such as abnormalities in the card reader or keypad, to protect yourself against card skimming.
- Keep an eye out for unauthorised transactions on your bank statements and safeguard your PIN entry from inquisitive eyes.
- When contactless payment options are available, use them to reduce the possibility of disclosing your credit card information.
- Report any unauthorised transactions or unusual behaviour to your bank right away so that they can look into it.
- Always look out for small or covert cameras when using an ATM.
Popular travel locations such as Spain, Italy, and Thailand have reported multiple cases of ATM tampering.
Cover image credits: Canva