Credit Card Fraud???

[Charlie640]

After my first trip to Lima.. a week later my credit card was compromised. I didn't think anythink of it.. until yesterday when I get a call from my CC company again about suspicious activity. I returned from Lima about 10 days ago. Coincidence?? or are the hotels and restaurants also in the business of selling cuctomers CC numbers on the blackmarket ?

[Tinto]

Last year in Medellin my credit card information was lifted to the extent that replacement cards were forged in Florida. They were small time crooks as evident to what they purchased, mostly small ticket items. I think that there is equipment that will detect CC transmissions from remote card swipe machines that are becoming more frequent in some of the finer restaurants in Colombia. It could have also been someone copying my information and then passing it on.

Nowadays I don't use those wireless swipers and watch the transaction when swiped from the main terminal and use cash more often.

Another useful feature was to have the CC company send me an email notification whenever a purchase amount of $100 was made.

BTW, never use your debit card unless at an ATM. I wouldn't want to hassle with my bank for being reimbursed for any fraudulent activity. With my CC Company it was fairly painless getting credited for the bogus charges.

Credit card ID theft is prevalent in all of latin america. You really have to keep records of all purchases and transactions you do abroad. I always keep receipts and verify them against my monthly CC/bank statements.