Possible ATM virus in Mexico

And don't forget the American Express offices which are just about everywhere.

Gtla wrote:
According to the American Express Traveler Check Locator, BBVA, IXE will cash travelers checks. There may be more, I checked Tijuana, San Felipe, Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta and Monterrey.

...Moisheh:

Traveler's checks are the best analog method to get cash in Latin America using face-to-face tellers. Eg. as gtla noted, AmEx has numerous "agents" across Mexico to cash face-to-face TCs: In DF, there is: IXE Banco (9 locales); and Banco Multiva (Centro). In La Paz: Baja Sur: Banamex (you need to open an account)...San Christobal d. L. Casas: 2 Banamex locales (but open an account); in Campeche: 3 Banamex locales. In Cancun: BBVA Bancomer at 10 locales (no account needed)...I did a sampling in disparate corners of Mexico.

In Honduras: San Pedro Sula city: all Banco Atlantida locales.

In Guatemala: Guate City: all Banco G & T Continental locales

In Belize: Belize City: The Belize Bank; 1st Caribbean International Bank; Atlantic Bank Ltd; Belize Global Travel Services

Some times wonky things happen like: when I was in Guatemala, and the fnancial services sector unilaterally announced: all traveler's checks can from henceforth only be cashed at Banco de Guatemala **in Guatemala City** !!! That was a PIA 'll tell you. Also, if you get caught in a coup d'etat (like in Honduras or Guatemala), only heavily fortified bank locales wll be open to do foreigner financial services at VERY limited hours...etc :)

I have used travelers checks various times in Mexico no problem, exchanging U.S. dollars at the banks has become almost impossible and hence I switched to ATM's about 4 or 5 years ago.

According to the American Express Traveler Check Locator, BBVA, IXE will cash travelers checks. There may be more, I checked Tijuana, San Felipe, Mazatlan, Puerta Vallarta and Monterrey.

Here is the locator, it is easy to use American Express Traveler Check Cashing Locations In Mexico

silver: Your advice to only use a live teller will not work in Mexico. Without ATM machines most of us would not be able to travel in Mexico. I do not think you can go to a teller at a Mexican bank and get money with your ATM card. Traveler's cheques are useless. I don't think you can cash a US or Canadian traveler's cheque in Mexico.

Moisheh

....if you think that "viruses" are only affecting Mexico's cash dispensing machines, think again!

There are a whole host of malware and viruses affecting banking machines Globally: in addition to plotus (a seemingly Latin American phenomenon), there are DMGs (dump memory grabbers), and Dexter. DMG have affected point of sale locales associated with 4 of America's largest banks...I (personally) assume that ALL POS (point of sale) and ALL ATM machines are infected, and only do cash withdrawals with a human teller at a bank (no matter what country). Your mileage may vary with my thinking (ie. do your own due diligence).

A good source to keep up with financial system compromise, is Security Week (enterprise security analysis), here-->

...but a warning: the more you read and know, the more you'll wish the World had never gone digital banking & personal and corporate digital info :B

This virus should be fixed soon, I hope.

...just when you think that this is the case, 100 or 200 new variants infect machines in more countries globally.

Have fun, and don't lose too much sleep over it,
S-

I look for machines that read rather than take the card... This virus should be fixed soon, I hope.

i always go on line as soon as possible after and make sure everything looks OK.

Our standard operating procedure for years is to only use ATMs (Cajero Automatica) at banks - when they are open - and when they are available. We know this is not always possible but whenever possible it could safer than stand alone machines. If the machine takes your card - which we have had happen - we can go in the bank and hopefully then can open the machine to get the card out - which we have also had happen - though not always. Just another precaution to be aware of.

Probably a good reason to withdraw close to your daily limit.