Just to advise anyone in Ponte Negra take care of using the cash machines on the beach front , i have just spent a month there and checking my accounts i have been ripped of for many thousands of dollars on unauthorized transactions taken from my Dollar and Uk Visa accounts , i have visited twice before and never had this problem so please be aware.

If your visiting i would suggest bring plenty of Euros or pounds and exchange them locally

Andy

Yep, happens frequently here in Brazil...unfortunately. They clone cards, have cameras that are filming the cards and you entering your PIN codes. Also never access your bank account from an internet cafe......NEVER!

I have already had money stolen from my account once here after accessing via an internet cafe in Porto Seguro. Thank goodness I caught it the very day they made the first transaction so they only got 300 reais. I know at least a dozen people this has happened to. It's so common that Banco do Brasil, and the other Brazilian banks, automatically give your lost money back to you within 24-48 hours.

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www.mjrdevelopments.com/ www.rosegardenbrazil.com

Yes me too, my cards were recently cloned in Brazil, probably in Ponta Negra too! Only thing I can suggest is to use an atm inside a bank where it should be more difficult to clone cards.

Another one for your list -though not Natal -Fortaleza.
Someone enjoyed a spending spree in Macys New York on my Visa.
Having said that ,a colleague of mine had the same experience at the local Tesco and someone else i know just returned from the Philippines and had the cash element of his pension cleared out of his bank account.
It is now an everyday worldwide phenomenon.Cash is king!

There is an answer, draw cash over the bank counter with a teller...just what the banks dont want!

I always get cash in big bundles from trusted ATM's and spend that.

Internet cafes are another favourite for getting information, if you need to access your bank account then make sure your bank issues you with something physical that you must have with you to use when logging in to their banking site. I would change banks if they don't have this security available to you.

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Brazil Property | Pipa Brazil | Property Investment in Brazil

Trusted ATM's?


LOL.



Which ones are those?



The thefts happen at ALL of them....faulta nenhum!



And how can one get "big bundles" when one has a max of 1000 reais per day at a brazilian ATM?

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www.mjrdevelopments.com/ www.rosegardenbrazil.com

It is pretty easy to get a bundle, just stick the card back in and withdraw more money I have done it many a time.

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Brazil Property | Pipa Brazil | Property Investment in Brazil

Luckily from my many travels there I have yet to experience this, even though I live by my cash card while over there. What I do though to help minimise the risks is have a separate bank account in the UK purely for my travels. I use Nationwide for this as it is the only Bank/building society (well to my knowledge) that does not charge the usual 2.75% commission on foriegn transfers, so when you transfer you just get the end of the previous days retail exchange rate, much better than of a tourist rate exchanging cash. Just before I travel I transfer enough money into my Nationwide from my regular acc, then as soon as I am back I empty the Nationwide wide incase of fraud after I return, of cause also I have my Nationwide with no credit card activity or overdraft.

This minimises to a point but of cause you can be done whilst in the country still, I also hand cover the key pad when pressing in my pin so above camera cant not detect.

You can take upto R$10K inside the bank counter if you want a bungle like Rob says if you dont want to risk the cash machines. There is normally a section for this inside the bank 'to get things checked' first, Ive done this once in BoB in Fortaleza, had to wait in a queue for 30 mins then takes about 10mins to proceed to take get things checked before being handed a receipt to withdraw money at the counter where you queue again for 20mins on a good day. Overall it took me about an hour my memory, maybe I was lucky with the speed!, of cause though you need to speak portuguese or have a translater, and dont forget your passport!!!

Why take Euros & Pounds in preference to obtaining Reais in the UK before you go. Am I missing something ?
Also I was advised that US Dollar travellers cheques were preferable but most of the guides say that exchange rates for TC's is very poor.

K