In order to prevent people from becoming victims of crime, including the practice known as ‘card swapping’, the State Prosecutor’s Office urged citizens to recognize and avoid falling into the hands of criminals who operate mainly in ATMs of different banks.
The agency indicated that, when carrying out any banking procedure and when using an ATM, do not allow anyone you don’t know to help you, be careful who is around you and watching, and be careful when entering your confidential PIN.
When the victim is inside the ATM, one or more people approach them offering their “help” to carry out some procedure at the bank machine, a moment that they take advantage of to swap bank cards from the victim without noticing.
These criminals, detailed the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office, act in complicity with more people: one is in charge of observing the victim’s PIN, and once they have the card in their possession, they make cash withdrawals when the victim leaves, before realizing their card has been swapped.
“Usually these types of events occur after 4:00 p.m. and mostly on weekends, which implies that it takes time to cancel the card, giving criminals more time to make withdrawals or purchases,” added the Prosecutor’s Office.
The agency urged citizens that: in the event of being a victim in the commission of any crime of this type, it is advisable to ask for help immediately from the emergency number 911 and receive an official copy of the report made.
If the event occurred within the State of Jalisco, it is necessary to go to the nearest Public Ministry; The following link provides information on our database of agencies in the state.
Banking institutions invite the victim to make sure that the plastic in hand is theirs before leaving the ATM. If the ATM “ate” the card or did not return it, you should not leave the ATM and you should immediately dial the numbers of your banking institution from the machine location so that a technician can come to check the ATM because there are criminal groups that set traps for these devices to keep the plastic and proceed to withdraw the available cash.
PRO TIP FROM PVDN: I always start making a video the moment I approach any ATM machine and record the entire process until the machine returns my card and dispenses the cash. Make sure you capture the ATM screen at all times so the amount you enter for the withdrawal is shown and the transaction completed confirmation is recorded. Many times I have received ‘could not complete transaction’ errors on the ATM machines in Mexico but the money is debited from my account. Bank machines along Olas Altas are the highest-risk machines in Puerto Vallarta for fraud. Always record every transaction at any ATM machine in Mexico.
