Expatriates in the Chapala area are reporting a rash of fraudulent access to U.S., Canadian and Mexican bank accounts within minutes of making withdrawals at local automatic teller machines (ATMs).
More than 20 cases have been registered at www.lakesidecrime.com since mid-October, with several victims reporting that their accounts were gutted.
Incidents include bank clients using both debit and credit cards, with most involving plastic issued abroad. The scams have occurred after use of ATMs installed at different public locations pertaining to HSBC and Banamex, as well as the Bancomer machine located outside the bank’s Ajijic branch. Five of the account owners were unsure of the last place they withdrew money before funds disappeared.
A half-dozen similar cases go back as far as last February, among them four scams in which Mexican citizens were hit.
Most of the foreign victims appear to have detected the losses quickly and reported the problem to the issuing institution in order to lock down their accounts and appeal for reimbursement. However, few have filed complaints with the banks that own the ATMs or Mexican authorities.
In interviews with the Reporter this week, branch managers at three area banks indicated they were not aware of the gravity of the local problem. Nonetheless, all concurred that ATM scams happen frequently all across the country, citing employment of “skimmers” superimposed on the card slots and placement of miniature video cameras as the usual modus operandi of fraudsters. They suggest that machines housed on the premises of branch offices are far more secure than those located in public places. Banks are making every effort to continually upgrade technology to stay ahead of the criminal curve.
Banamex manager Edgar Barron stated that a new and less vulnerable card slot has just been installed at the bank’s ATM booth, noting that machines at Walmart and Farmacias Guadalajara will be fitted with the same type of blue plastic cover in the near future.
Bancomer manager Alfredo Sosa said he has not personally received any fraud complaints, but was aware of an email currently in circulation that warns bank customers of such problems. He pointed out that all ATMs are under the eye of video surveillance equipment, adding that those placed at commercial outlets are normally situated near the entrance and in clear view of store guards.
At HSBC, manager Jesus Guerrero pointed out that ATMs are not managed directly by bank or store personnel, but rather by private security outfits such as Sepsa that are responsible for machine maintenance and repairs and stocking them with cash.
Recommendations
The bank officials warn ATM users to avoid accepting help from unknown persons and exercise extreme caution when other individuals may be close enough to watch as they type in PIN numbers. Bank clients are advised to keep close tabs on their standing account balances and immediately report bogus withdrawals to the card issuer. Most cards have a toll -free contact number printed on the back side.
Incident reports posted on the crime watch website are helpful in boosting community awareness of the spots where automatic teller theft is most frequent, as well as the extent of all types of local criminal activity. Those willing to go the full mile can help Mexican authorities put a check on the bad guys by filling official complaints at the Ministerio Publico (public prosecutor’s) office, Calle Juarez 573, Chapala. Victims need to present identification documents and those not fluent in Spanish will require the services of a competent translator.
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