How to protect your money and bank cards when traveling

In the evening, the tourist withdrew a couple of hundred from an ATM at a gas station. Waking up in the morning, he discovered nine SMS notifications from his bank about successful withdrawals from various ATMs in the area and an entirely empty bank account.

Unfortunately, theft of bank card details is a rather common problem in Bali. Carefree tourists with money come here from all over the world, and scammers appreciate it. How to prepare and what to do to protect your money - we will find out in the article.

Open a savings account

Virtual account is known only to you and your bank. No card is issued for it: you cannot make purchases in stores or withdraw cash. When you need money, you transfer the required amount from the savings account to the card account through the mobile application and go to the ATM. If a fraudster steals or copies the card, they won't be able to access your main savings - they are securely stored elsewhere, where no one else but you has access.

Consult with your bank on how to set up savings and virtual accounts.

Banks usually use either SMS confirmation or one-time passwords on paper or electronic media. It's not advisable to disable SMS confirmations, but keep in mind that there may be issues with receiving SMS from banks abroad. Just in case, request a list of one-time passwords that you can use at any time.

In the online banking settings, check the boxes for transaction notifications not only via SMS but also via email. The earlier you detect suspicious activity, the more chances you have to recover your money.

Some cards have smartphone apps where you can disable access to various spending categories (payments at cafes and restaurants, online purchases, ATM withdrawals, transfers to other cards). If you need money, you enable one of these options, use the card, and then disable access to the card again.

You can have multiple accounts and cards. You can keep the main amount on a card that you never use in unreliable countries. And in risky places, use another card to which you will transfer strictly the amounts you intend to spend through the mobile application on your phone. This way, on the risky card, you won't have money or will have a very small amount, the loss of which won't particularly upset you.

Set limits on payments and cash withdrawals using your card. If something happens to the card, criminals will not take all the money in the account.

The best way to protect your money while traveling is to take several plastic cards, set limits on them, and store them in different places. Some banks allow you to issue up to five additional cards for yourself and your loved ones for free. If one card is stolen, you block it, retrieve the next one from the safe, and continue your trip.

It is also useful to obtain cards from different banks or, at the very least, to different accounts within the same bank. This way, if one card is lost, you can transfer money to another card through online banking.

If you authorize a close relative, they can help you access your money if you lose your card. Also, if you lose your card, you can ask a relative to open a new one in their name and send it to you by mail.

You can also authorize someone abroad. To do this, you will need to visit the consulate, write an application, confirm your identity, and pay the consulate for sending the power of attorney to the bank by diplomatic mail.

Indonesia is included in the global list of risky countries for banking. Banks often block their clients' cards if transactions seem suspicious to them. By informing the bank in advance, you can avoid unnecessary stress.

Banks often call back if they notice a suspicious transaction: try to have your phone with you when making a significant purchase and make sure the bank has your current number.

Withdraw cash from ATMs and pay with cash. If you have to pay by card, do not let the card out of your sight.

In Indonesia, you can use cards in major chain hotels, large expensive restaurants, or if you are absolutely sure: for example, you have checked the establishment's reputation on TripAdvisor and made sure that there are no scary stories about theft or withholding funds from the account in the reviews.

ATMs located within bank branches (preferably during bank hours) or in the lobby of large hotels under surveillance and security. Avoid using ATMs at gas stations or in small shops on the outskirts. If an ATM is located in a minimarket, don't rely on the store clerk to control its safety. They may be colluding with card scammers.

Check the appearance of the ATM keyboard and card slot before use. The keyboard should be securely attached and deeply embedded, and the card slot should be flush with the casing without any additional plastic protrusions.

If you suspect there is a keypad overlay, go to another ATM, don't take risks! Cover the keypad when entering your PIN, as sometimes scammers install miniature cameras to spy on it. Remember how the ATM (keyboard and card slot) you usually use looks like.

If you complete a transaction and your online banking shows that the money has been debited but hasn't been dispensed from the ATM slot, it may have a blocking device. Once you leave the ATM, perpetrators will come, remove the device, and take your money.

If you encounter problems while withdrawing money and want to call the bank's emergency service, carefully inspect how the hotline number is indicated on the ATM. If the sticker looks temporary and of poor quality, it may actually be the scammers' number. After calling, they may come in fake uniforms and try to obtain your bank card details. Fake drivers could also be involved, who will guarantee to take you to the hotel while their accomplices withdraw money from your account at the ATM.

If your card is stolen, immediately block it so that thieves cannot make any transactions. You can block your card by phone, through online banking, or in the mobile app.

Important: You cannot unblock the card — you can only request a reissue.

If you are not sure that your card has been stolen, do not rush to block it. Instead, set a limit of "0 rubles" and disable the option to pay for purchases online with the card. While you search for the card in your hotel room, the fraudster won't be able to buy a MacBook on eBay. The bank will reject the transaction due to the limit, and you will receive an SMS — realizing that your card has been stolen. And if you still find it in your room — restore the old limits and forget about the incident.

Call the bank and explain the situation to the representative. The bank will investigate the matter and offer emergency cash withdrawal — within one to two days, you can withdraw money from your account at a local bank or another financial institution, provided that the card was issued in your name.

Initially, the bank representative will send a request for emergency cash withdrawal to the "Visa" or "Mastercard" payment system. A payment system consultant will call the traveler, provide a special access code, and explain where and when they can collect the cash.

The tourist goes to the designated location, provides the code, and receives the money — the amount is debited from the card account. "Mastercard" provides cash at "Western Union" offices, while "Visa" provides cash at branches of local banks or other payment systems.

"Visa" and "Mastercard" will not only assist in obtaining cash but also a new card. The service is called Emergency Card Replacement: the tourist informs the payment system that their card has been stolen — the payment system independently contacts the bank and initiates the issuance of a temporary card.

In urgent cases, a courier can deliver a new card within two to three business days. Contact a bank representative and explain the situation — the bank will consider the possibility of quickly delivering the card.

1. Set limits on card payments and cash withdrawals.

2. Open a savings account and keep large sums of money there — scammers won't be able to access it.

3. Obtain additional cards and store them in different places.

4. If you are not sure that your card has been stolen, set a limit of "0 rubles" and disable the option to pay for purchases online with the card.

5. If you are sure that the card has been stolen — block the card.

6. Arrange with the bank for emergency cash withdrawal or delivery of a temporary plastic card.