Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

johninajijic

Feb 26, 2011, 2:03 PM

Post #1 of 13 (3908 views)

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CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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Be careful using your credit card at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic. I received an email from my cardholder Citibank about possible fraud on my account. On Thursday, Feb. 24, I charged $ 72.16 in medication on the card. Citibank picked up a charge of $ 315.00 in groceries from Farmacia Guadalajara.

I NEVER had any fraudulent use of my credit cards in the States.

joaquinx

Feb 26, 2011, 2:31 PM

Post #2 of 13 (3887 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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And then you did what?

Rolly

Feb 26, 2011, 2:32 PM

Post #3 of 13 (3886 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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I learned my lesson a long time ago with over US$7,000 bogus changes that my card company caught.
Now, I never use a credit card in México.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Gringal

Feb 26, 2011, 4:03 PM

Post #4 of 13 (3860 views)

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Re: [Rolly] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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Amen, Rolly. I use it for airline tickets and such: never for local purchases from stores or restaurants.

I think we can probably assume this was an inside job, and John would be doing a service by talking to the management. The miscreant could be using a skimmer under the counter or any number of other methods, but the manager would know who was on what shift when the charges were made.

johninajijic

Feb 26, 2011, 4:12 PM

Post #5 of 13 (3858 views)

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Re: [joaquinx] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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I confirmed it with Citibank that charges were not mine. What else should I do?

Rolly - I've been in Mexico 10 years and use my cards regularly at Costco and Farmacia GDL. It can happen anywhere.

Gringal - I may or may not report it depending if I can get a Spanish speaking perso to translate for me.

Obviously, I will not use a credit card at Farmacia GDL again.

(This post was edited by johninajijic on Feb 26, 2011, 4:33 PM)

joaquinx

Feb 26, 2011, 4:22 PM

Post #6 of 13 (3854 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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In Reply To

I confirmed it with Citibank that charges were not mine. What else should I do?

When I first came to Mexico some 10 years ago, I bought auto insurance on the Mexican side of the border. It was a six month policy and after six months, the agent automatically renewed the policy not knowing whether I was in the country or had left for the US. I called my bank (BofA) and complained. I was sent a form to fill out and mail back. I faxed it back and said that the original was in the mail. BofA then reversed the charges and I never heard from the agent. This was a debit card that doesn't carry the same higher protection that a credit card does.

As a protection for my US bank account, I only use my BofA card to withdraw funds from an ATM located at a bank. I use my Mexican bank debit card for all purchases in Mexico. That account carries a small balance of a few thousand pesos. If I lose it or it gets stolen or whatever, the loss is not great and my account in the US is protected.

(This post was edited by joaquinx on Feb 26, 2011, 4:23 PM)

tashby

Feb 26, 2011, 6:47 PM

Post #7 of 13 (3821 views)

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Re: [johninajijic] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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You should report it to the Management at Farmacia Guadalajara. Find someone who speaks Spanish to help you if you're incapable of communicating. It's very possible it's the scenario outlined by Gringal, that one of the employees there has gotten their hands on a skimmer.

But it might have happened other ways, too. There are a lot of ways to perpetuate credit card fraud, so I wouldn't huff-and-puff indignantly, insisting that it HAD to be that clerk I handed my card to who did the deed. It could have happened after the fact, after the legitimate transaction was processed. Who knows.

I too am careful about using my credit card in Mexico. But that's because one weekend when I was living in Seattle, I spent it in New Orleans and Las Vegas without even knowing it. As you say, johninajijic, it can happen anywhere.

So far, not to me in Mexico.

Axixic

Feb 27, 2011, 4:58 AM

Post #8 of 13 (3766 views)

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Re: [tashby] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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Getting a new card can be a pain but with a U.S. credit card you are not responsible for fraudulent charges. If it's not your purchase, you are protected and not responsible for paying. Is that also true with MX issued credit cards or can the card holder be made to pay for fraudulent charges? With a U.S. ATM card the stolen money is returned to the card holder. Is that true with a MX ATM card?

Feb 27, 2011, 1:23 PM

Post #9 of 13 (3663 views)

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Re: [Rolly] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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Rolly, agree with your post 100%. Do not use a credit card in Mexico. Use bank owned on premises ATMs only and always shield with your hand your pin number. Surprising that someone who has lived here for ten years has not figured this out. I have an account at Multiva, here in Ajijic. I like it for a variety of reasons. One, to get into the separate enclosed ATM machine area, I have to insert my card to open the door, and I push a button to open the door when my transaction is completed. This gives me total security while I am doing my transaction. In addition, by the time I get home, I have an e-mail from Multiva announcing the time, day and amount that I took out of the ATM and asking me to contact them if there is a problem. Amazing service. Folks need to stop using ATM's not attached to a bank and never, ever use an ATM that is not affiliated with a bank, as you may be helping to launder drug money. Sorry for John's loss, but the problem with the ATM at Farmacia GDL in Ajijic has been well known for several months. T

Feb 27, 2011, 1:30 PM

Post #10 of 13 (3660 views)

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Re: [Gringal] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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Not sure how John talking to the management at Farmacia GDL would be of any help. ATM machines are owned and operated by their named vendor and pay monthly fees to any business that has them on their premises. Where they are located means nothing and the management of the company that contains those machines want the income from the machine and a per centage of the profits from that machine and have zero interest in correcting any problems T

Rolly

Feb 27, 2011, 1:32 PM

Post #11 of 13 (3658 views)

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Re: [T] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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He didn't use the ATM. He said he charged his meds on his credit card..

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Feb 27, 2011, 1:38 PM

Post #12 of 13 (3651 views)

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Re: [Rolly] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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Thanks Rolly, for the correction. T.

Feb 27, 2011, 1:41 PM

Post #13 of 13 (3643 views)

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Re: [Gringal] CREDIT CARD FRAUD at Farmacia Guadalajara in Ajijic

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My apologies Gringal, your suggestion is right on. I misread John's post thinking it was the ATM machine at Farmacia GDL, which we all know has had some issues. T