Credit card scam!! SDQ

[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?

 

[kacuni]

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

 

[El Tigre]

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

I guess you can never be too cautious.

 

[miozio]

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]

Credit Cards

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]

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]

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

 

[mountainannie]

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]

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]

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.

 

[miozio]

I wanted to open a bank account as Popular but now have doubts, whats a good bank here in Sosua with respected emploees?

 

[DominicanBilly]

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.

This is great advice and this post hits the nail on the head. You can use it to rent a car and pay cash later for the discounted price. Limits your exposure.

 

[Yachtmaster]

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?

Very strange! I had two of the exact same charges from the exact same Mexican company for 70.00 MXN to my credit card, once in June and once in July. Had no idea that the bogus charges may have originated from the DR as it was a Mexican company. I was in Santo Domingo in May and used my credit card a couple of times while there, however nothing to do with Banco popular, but I did rent a car from National for a couple of days at SDQ airport. I called my credit card company and they cancelled my credit card and issued a new one.

 

[tflea]

One can buy fraud alert/protection services from most, if not all credit card issuers and they alert you via phone, text and/or email very quickly if there is suspected fraud on any credit card issued by them. Cost is about $10 USD monthly at Citibank. Probably about the same at other institutions. Weigh the cost vs. the risk.
You can also advise the card issuer in advance of travel so as not to surprise them, or you, with irregular purchases.
Don't know why people say, "especially in the DR". The DR is no different from anywhere else regarding fraudulent cards and the like.

 

[miozio]

Very strange! I had two of the exact same charges from the exact same Mexican company for 70.00 MXN to my credit card, once in June and once in July. Had no idea that the bogus charges may have originated from the DR as it was a Mexican company. I was in Santo Domingo in May and used my credit card a couple of times while there, however nothing to do with Banco popular, but I did rent a car from National for a couple of days at SDQ airport. I called my credit card company and they cancelled my credit card and issued a new one.

National car rental it is!!! Bingo!!! I actualy rented my car at Santo Domingo National point but dropped it off at POP airport, remembering now that they actualy took a copy of my CC at Santo Domingo - Ave Independencia (SDQC02) They also charged me more saying it was a waranty hold and that they would charge me in POP airport, they kept 24.000 pesos. What a fraud with national rental in DR. I am going to right to the main office telling them about criminals in duty at the branch Santo Domingo - Ave Independencia (SDQC02) Please do the same, this prisoner should stay where he belongs! Or it is a whole team of them in Santo Domingo if you said you used the airport office! Sorry Banco Popular, my appologies!! Its not you!!!

 

[miozio]

Forgot to tell you that i had two more attempts today!!! Another try with 70 MXN AND 463,02 USD at Mexicana EDS!!!!! My GOD, what is happening!!!! I don't need to cancel my card as i am in full controll of it, they can't take anything!!!
Next time i am in Santo Domingo, i will pay them a visit at Ave Independensa, find this guy, and carry him to the police by the collar! Now i must find the contract with them if i still have it.!!!!!!!!!!!! Wanted to add to my previous post but the time for editing expired : They also charged me more saying it was a waranty hold and that they would charge the actual fee at POP airport, they kept 24.000 pesos and the fee was supposed to be $600. 3000 pesos went to someones pocket!

 

[Tamborista]

Can I ask a silly question...why haven't you cancelled the card yet?

 

[Yachtmaster]

National car rental it is!!! Bingo!!! I actualy rented my car at Santo Domingo National point but dropped it off at POP airport, remembering now that they actualy took a copy of my CC at Santo Domingo - Ave Independencia (SDQC02) They also charged me more saying it was a waranty hold and that they would charge me in POP airport, they kept 24.000 pesos. What a fraud with national rental in DR. I am going to right to the main office telling them about criminals in duty at the branch Santo Domingo - Ave Independencia (SDQC02) Please do the same, this prisoner should stay where he belongs! Or it is a whole team of them in Santo Domingo if you said you used the airport office! Sorry Banco Popular, my appologies!! Its not you!!!

I am flying into SDQ today and will follow up with National/Alamo while I am there. I will also advise my credit card company where the fraudulent charges seemed to have originated from. Hopefully this can be traced to the perpetrator. Remember the VISANET scam in the DR last year? The scam was traced to a few people working at VISANET..........

 

[miozio]

Can I ask a silly question...why haven't you cancelled the card yet?

I did right after the last attempt!

 

[AlterEgo]

This is very disturbing. We've been renting cars at the National/Alamo office on Independencia and Maximo Gomez for years, in fact I think the guy there knows our names and faces on sight. It's always the same fellow who takes care of us. We've never had a problem with our credit cards, and we always pay with them. [someone suggested securing the car with a card, then paying cash - but they'd already have your card #, so what would be the difference?? Except that you'd save the 3% international transaction fee.] The owner of that franchise used to live in the house across the street from my brother-in-law, but he moved, I wish he was still there so we could talk to him about it.

Now you have me wondering if we never had a problem because my husband is Dominican? He has a very no-nonsense manner. Or because they may know we 'kind of' know the owner?

Or maybe I should reserve a car somewhere else next time??

:ermm::ermm::ermm: