ATM scams in Bali

Bali has improved in many ways over the last 15 years. I remember back in 1993 in the days when everyone either had cash or travelers checks. Cashing a travelers check meant lining up and spending 30 minutes filling out a form and waiting for your money. On Sundays the only t-c’s or cash they took was US$.

Now its all changed with ATM machines dotted all over the island. If you are staying in a tourist area or in a big town, you can step around the corner from your hotel and draw money straight from your bank account. Since living in Bali I can’t really point to any ATM scams that have happened here, but would say you have to be alert. Bali is generally safe, but if out late at night by yourself, you should take care if drawing out large amounts. The most common thing that can happen is you receive your money and forget to take your card.

Occasionally the power will go out in the neighborhood, which affects everyone. If you are in the middle of a transaction, the machine will stop working, but carry on from the last point when the power comes back on. If you have typed in our PIN number, the machine will then ask you what kind of transaction you need. The problem here is if you leave and the power comes back on, the next person will have access to your bank account. In some banks the machine will swallow the card and you can retrieve it from the main office. Generally using an ATM is a safe way to withdraw cash in Bali.