When I started to think about blog topics, the first one that came to mind was about my experience studying abroad. That got split into two posts, one about the good and one about the bad. Then the bad just overtook me and I had too much to say. Too many lessons I had to learn the hard way that I felt I should share with the world, in hopes you don’t make them too.
So grab some wine and enjoy the first anecdote on how I got $3,000 stolen from me.
My first week in Florence, I needed cash to pay for a couple of weekend trips that was organized through my school. I used the ATM outside of my apartment since I was on a time crunch. This ATM wasn’t attached to any building or bank just a stand alone ATM. Used the ATM as normal, got my cash and was on my way. Flash forward to October, three friends and I planned our fall break trip and I booked the hotels on my credit card. The girls paid me in cash for their portion. Because of that, I had no need to withdraw any cash for around a month. Mid November comes when I finally ran out of the cash I had and owed money to a friend after our Ireland trip. For the most part of the four months abroad I was using my credit card due to the fact that I got notifications right when it was used. I liked this just in case my card got stolen I would know right away. I wasn’t using my debit card at all, so I had no need to check my bank account since I wasn’t using it.
I went to an ATM inside of a bank and my card was declined. This had happened once before- the bank blocked it because I tried to take out more money than I could daily because of the currency exchange. I called my mom to call the bank and she says “you already took out $400 today, why do you need more?” and my stomach dropped. I replied and said, “no, I haven’t..” and the panic sets in. I still had my physical card with me, how is money taken out?
While I was in Ireland, someone was taking out money in Florence. When I came back to Florence, someone was taking my money out in Milan. They kept moving around and never used the ATM when we were both in the same city at the same time. This got turned into frustration on both my end and my family’s end. Mainly because we were on different time zones and I couldn’t physically go to the bank and solve this. They were the ones who had taken the time out of their day to fix it while I had to wait for an update.I was so confused on how this could even happen in the first place and was also mad at myself for not noticing this earlier.
The bank came back with “well you could have given someone your debit card and pin while you were away. You have no proof you didn’t do that.” Which, valid point. I then sent in anything I could do to prove how I was not in that specific city when the cash was taken out. I sent copies of my passport stamps, copies of receipts and letters from my teachers attesting I was in class those days. I even went down to the Italian police station and filed a report. I was told it wasn’t good enough again, until I wrote a personal email about how devastating this is. Then they changed their mind and gave me my stolen money back within the next day. Isn’t that what bank insurance is for?! I wasn’t about to scam the town bank we have been going to since 2002.
I really learned my lesson in that moment. Even if you think you are being careful, you still have to do your research intensively about where you are visiting. Even for a person like me who researched all about going abroad for an entire year, still had something go wrong. Research on every little detail, beyond what restaurants to go to. We still aren’t exactly sure how this could have happened since I did have my debit card with me the entire time. After doing some research, the ATM probably had a “skimmer” on it. This device is place over the port where you insert your card and it can read the magnetic strip on your card and rip its data. With that information, a counterfeit card could be created. Something I never even knew existed. And this is something that can happen anywhere in the world- not just Europe specifically.
Just a few more tips to remember that I’m sure you already know but might need to be reminded of-
Let your bank and credit card companies know you’re traveling and for how long.
Try to use cash for everything. AAA will exchange and give you the currency you need for no extra fee. Once at your destination, don’t bring all of your cash with you daily. Leave some in your hotel in case you lose it or get pick pocketed. Don’t want to loose all your money up front.
If you do need to use an ATM, try to take as much out as you can- since withdrawal fees are pretty high.
Always check your surroundings when withdrawing- make sure someone else is not watching you or too close to you.
If you are going to take anything away from this- do NOT use random ATM’s you see on the street. Physically go into a bank and use theirs instead. Even if that means walking the further distance to one.
Thanks for reading-
Arrivederci
xo Jenna