agswimmer

Thanks! That does help a lot! I would never have thought to look out for some of those "tricks". Now I'm thinking I'd be safer bringing cash (hugging to my body of course! )

cary999

"Now I'm thinking I'd be safer bringing cash"

You loose $500 in cash, it is gone. You have a $500 or $5,000 card fraud and you are out the most $50 and likely actually $0. Like I said way above, credit card loss or fraud is way down on my list to things to worry about when traveling. Your risk of significant damage is zero.

regards - tom

Gritty

Thanks, Selwyn. I didn't know that the "skimmers" they use were so small. Sneaky!

cary999

This from dpreview photo forum-
"Right now there is a "Blue Light Gang" targeting tourist shuttle buses coming from the airport into Johannesburg.

Five incidents have been reported in the past two weeks, where the buses have been stopped and foreign tourists robbed of their possessions. These are mainly the mini-bus shuttles, not coaches.

Not sure how you avoid this one, it depends on the driver being careful - hopefully this gets resolved soon. "

regards - tom

cary999

I should have added to above about bus robbers - now that is something I worry about 100 times more than credit card fraud. Can you imagine them taking your wallet, passport, and two bags of camera gear!?! Talk about a ruined vacation.

regards - tom