½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

I haven't been scammed but I have had a couple of credit cards with fraudulent activity although it was not with a local Indonesian bank. Luckily it was easy to get refunded by the bank.

I think I've been in Asia for such a long time and I'm old so I've seen a lot and I just don't fall for things. Actually I can't believe how gullible some people are.

There's this Karma Group thing in Bali where you get approached by sales people and you get a scratch card and you always win. Then they tell you to come to a meeting and get your prize, and eventually it leads to Time Share apartments. So many foreign tourists have been suckered into this and they sign contracts and have to keep paying out money to this Karma thing. Later, so many of them are looking for ways out because they are fed up paying out money every month. So many suckers around.

In Bali there are ATM machine scams where your card might be skimmed, even the ATMs in convenience stores. So you need to withdraw cash from an ATM in a bank rather than just anywhere.

Maybe I am just too lazy or just tight with money but I usually switch off when I sense people are heading towards talk about money.

There's this Karma Group thing in Bali where you get approached by sales people and you get a scratch card and you always win. Then they tell you to come to a meeting and get your prize, and eventually it leads to Time Share apartments. So many foreign tourists have been suckered into this and they sign contracts and have to keep paying out money to this Karma thing. Later, so many of them are looking for ways out because they are fed up paying out money every month. So many suckers around.

In Bali there are ATM machine scams where your card might be skimmed, even the ATMs in convenience stores. So you need to withdraw cash from an ATM in a bank rather than just anywhere. - @wyngrove60

The winning ticket scam is big in Bali, but does happen in other parts of Indonesia. I was silly enough to believe one lot in Poin square mall. I won the free potato pealer, then they asked me to get my prize from a shop. We entered, then they locked the door and tried to sell me a full kitchen set.

They failed, as would have the glass in the door had they not unlocked it.

The ATM skimming thing has been around for years, but also happens outside Bali.

I first say one in Purwokerto before it was known as a big thing. The bank said it was impossible, as did the police, then customer complains happened and the skimmer was finally removed.

Watch out for people hanging around in shopping centres or supermarkets suddenly stopping you, explaining how they're students collecting for charity.

They commonly want a one off payment. Their ID cards look very professional, but they're fake.The people using stands are genuine but one off people hanging around are always scammers. A polite "No thank you" and look around for a security guard.If one is there at the time, wave him over and the offenders will be kicked out. The malls have got wise to this one now so they are few and far between.

Traffic lights often see 'volunteers' collecting for whatever - many are collecting for themselves.

Again, a polite refusal is best.Violence from these people is uncommon, so remain polite, avoid confrontation and they'll go away and try to scam the next people. Those in school uniform are likely the real thing as their principal would kick the lot out of school if they used their uniforms for such a thing. These legitimate collections are conducted in groups, never individuals.

NEVER give money to kids begging - Apart from being illegal (Hardly enforced), many of the kids are not willing, some may even have been kidnapped and forced to work. Many of the women with babies have hired the kids, and they tend to work in gangs.

SMS scams had become rare since the introduction of the new security rules because the thieves must register their SIM cards, they can't send SMS scams without being found out very quickly and arrested.

However, mass SMS services have allowed them to return.

I don't know anyone that uses SMS out here, so don't allow the app to notify you, then delete the lot when you get around it it.

Messages from hospitals, banks, the police, and other fakes asking for money or personal details should be ignored.  Again, these has stopped but they have managed a return.

One thing I heard of some years ago.

Woman approaches man and it's off for fun fuzzies for money, or even fun fuzzies without the money, but the outraged husband still knocks on door demanding cash or police.

A cop I know in Java explained that one - seems it's quite common in some areas.

Good lord, I haven't been scammed. Praying for everyone's safety.

@Fred

They failed, as would have the glass in the door had they not unlocked it.

🤣