do not use debit card in China!
ooka
May 19, 2009, 05:48 AM posted in General DiscussionHi everyone, i'd like to share my story in the hope what happened to me won't happen to anyone here。
As most of you know in China foreigner aren't allowed to apply for credit card - we can only apply for debit card. (借记卡jie4ji4ka3）
Last week I went to an atm and before withdrawing my money i decided to check my account. I thought there must be a mistake when it said i had only 773 rmb left on my account (i was expecting to see around 13000rmb). So i ran to my bank with my account book, and i found out that a week earlier someone had done 6 withdrawals of 2000 rmb on my account...
I was explained by the teller that my card had probably been copied at an atm (either by sticking a card sweeper over the place you put your card in, or something similar), that someone had seen me entering my pin code (either using microcamera installed near the atm, or by peeking over my shoulders) and then duplicated my card and emptied my account in another atm (as it turns out the thieves went to an atm in Hangzhou - i lived in Ningbo - that's about 150 miles from there).
The fraud is a classic, everybody knows about it, i thought i was always careful, obviously i was not enough.
Where it stings is that in China, the bank (bank of china) won't pay you back until the thieves have been caught by the police. (I'm told my case has been transferred to the Hangzhou police and that they'll call me when they find something new..)
My bank told me this is happening more and more often with debit card (they also told me they almost never get the money back to the victims).
Bottom line = run to your banks and cancel your debit card! Only withdraw your money at the counter with your book account.
lestmak
May 19, 2009, 09:56 AMThis isn't something that just happens in China. It also happens just about anywhere you go.
Two tips:
1) Have a look that the ATM (or even the card machine you use at cashiers in supermarkets, etc), don't have a secondary device attached over the card slot. (This is how they get your card details, via the magnetic strip.)
Don't try to touch it if you suspect one is there - the fraudster is probably around trying to get your PIN, so if you think the ATM is suspicious, just walk away and call the police from a distance.
2) Always cover up your hand when entering your PIN. Use your wallet, etc., if you need to. Some fraudsters have been known to attach tiny cameras to record the entering of your PIN.
Anyway, Ooka, sorry to hear about your loss and sorry that this advice isn't much help to you. But hopefully this will help others not be caught by the same trick.
ooka
May 21, 2009, 01:43 AMhttp://www.sx.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-05/13/content_16515732.htm
according to my understanding of this article, (on the 2nd page) if i sue the bank or make a formal complaint with a lawyer i have a fairly good chance to get my money bank.
but so far no news from the police...
the first page is just shocking apparently if you make a research online for a " bank card duplication machine" 银行卡复制器, you can find them for 8000 Yuan!!!!
helenshen_counselor
May 21, 2009, 02:24 AM@ ooka, I'm sorry to hear that and.......I can hardly believe that this "bank card duplication machine" can be found online!
user14747
May 25, 2009, 10:54 PMMy god I thought it was just here in rip off Britain that this was happening with the Albanians putting the machines on ATM's, sorry to hear about that ooka.
foreverlovebest
May 28, 2009, 02:35 AMsorry to hear about your loss.in fact,similar things once happened on me ,and i never get them back,so everything depends on yourself,just be careful next time,and i sincerely hope you can get rid of the loss you lost,bye.
ooka
May 28, 2009, 03:53 AMhi guys! thanks for the support, really.
here's one more piece of news indicating i should just sue the bank.
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/cj/cj-xfsh/news/2009/05-27/1710749.shtml
[...]基于上述理由，受害人完全可以起诉发卡银行，要求其承担违约责任并赔偿损失。在银行无证据证明受害人在使用银行卡的过程中有 “密码保管或使用不当”之情形，亦无证据证明受害人故意泄露了密码或参与了犯罪，对卡内存款被盗一事，银行应当承担部分乃至全部责任
... now i've got to see how much a lawyer is going to cost me...
calkins
May 19, 2009, 07:47 AMOoka, so sorry to hear about your bank account being wiped out. That hurts, and I hope they find the thieves and that you get all of your money back.
I wouldn't say that everyone should cancel their debit card and only use a teller. Debit cards (and ATM cards) are extremely useful. I find that the banking system (at least here in Taiwan) is 10 plus years behind the times - I think any little bit of extra convenience is worth the risk (at least for me). Personally, I'd rather take a risk with the debit card than with carrying large sums of money around.
Anyway, not discounting your suggestion...just speaking my mind. Best of luck in getting your dough back.