Hi all, this is right from the front desk of the Ministry of the Interior (State Dept.) here in Spain so pay attention, it is serious stuff!
Here is the official warning in Spanish (English translation below it):
quote:
"Desde el Ministerio de Interior se ha comunicado que una importante banda de estafadores yugoslavos estan utilizando franjas lectoras de datos en las ranuras de los cajeros, Cajamadrid, La Caixa y BBVA (que tienen el mismo sistema de recepcion de tarjetas). Dicha banda es capaz de almacenar mas de 100 numeros de tarjetas con todos los datos de los titulares, una vez recopilada la informaci�n proceden a grabar dichos datos en tarjetas falsas pudiendo ser utilizadas tanto en cajeros automaticos como en comercios.Del comunicado se desprende que la forma que tienen estos para saber que cajeros tienen puesta la banda magn�tica son unas pegatinas peque�as (de unos 3 cm de ancho por 2 cm de alto) de colores vistosos que colocan en la parte de abajo del cajero. Si encuentras algun cajero con este "distintivo" no metas alli tu tarjeta y avisa rapidamente a la sucursal para que bloqueen el dispositivo."
ENGLISH VERSION:
quote:
"Warning from the Ministry of the Interior. A gang of Yugoslavian scam artisits is using data recording strips in the slots of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) belonging to the banks Caja Madrid, La Caixa and BBVA which all use the same sitstem of data reading on ATM cards. THis strip is capable of recording 100 numbers of cards with all the information of the card holder. Once the information isd collected, the gang of scam artists manufactures false ATM cards with the user info which can be used in bothe ATM machines to withdraw cash and stores for purchases. The method of placing the strips on the ATM machines is via a small colored sticker (3cm long X 2 cm wide) placed on the lower part of the ATM machine. If you find a sticker or suspicious strip of any type, do not put your card in and notify the bank employees right away so that they can block the machine. "
I guess as a rule of thumb it is best not to take out cash too often and just use your credit or debit card instead as I recommend in my MONEY MATTERS section.
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- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
