The really frightening part is that many of us use ATM cards to get cash, which is want our friend did in Paris. I do not know if he ever used a "free standing" ATM or not. But I'd hate to go back to traveler's checks or exchanging cash at banks or change bureaus out of fear.

Yes what a nightmare - travelers cheques at banks with limited hours - and with the euro and ATMS many banks don't even change money anymore - may have to rely on the Beaueaux des Changes and low rates or use cheques as low rates. this has prompted me to use more precautions, however, as not having many funds in my ATM account to tap.
The word 'change' supposedly came from a street by Chartres cathedral in its medieval pilgrim heyday when money-changers gathered on this street - the Rue de Change - and the name came to mean changing money (this i heard on a Malcom Miller tour. so it's gotta be true) - without ATMs and available banks we could see a return on street changers?

I would like to re-stress a point I made earlier. Change your PIN. It takes the scammer time to make a new card. If you change your PIN before you go on vacation, and as soon as you get back, you are greatly reducing your risk. I usually do this anyway to switch to a 4 digit pin.

It's been going on in the UK as well: some Romanians were sent down for a good long time after using false front skimming equipment on ATMs. Basically, don't use an ATM that's got a bulbous bit sticking out in front of the card slot. Here's a link with some pictures of what to look out for:

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/moneyweekly/skimming.html

It's been going on in the UK as well: some Romanians were sent down for a good long time after using false front skimming equipment on ATMs. Basically, don't use an ATM that's got a bulbous bit sticking out in front of the card slot. Here's a link with some pictures of what to look out for:

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/moneyweekly/skimming.html

And here's some advice from one of our police forces:
http://www.sussex.police.uk/communit...y/fraud_18.asp

I wouldn't believe that Malcolm Miller story, or at least don't understand what point he was trying to make as the word "exchange" is a normal word (echange in French), you don't have to make up some story that the whole origin of the term came from a street near Chartres cathedral. What other word would you use to exchange one thing for another? The word change means exchange in French (noun), it's just shortened, but they don't use the English word "change" to mean change as we do in English (coins). Calling a Bureau de Change exactly what it is doesn't seem to need some special story, those words are literal.

Aside from fraud with cameras and secret recordings of card copies, it isn't usually a good idea to be using private nonbank ATMs, anyway, as they can charge you a fee and a bank ATM won't. If you were desperate and couldn't find a bank-affiliated one, I could see it.

You can get scammed at a bank ATM as well - like in my story with the door swiper. Be on guard everywhere.

Malcom Miller wrong? Now that's a change! (I'm not doubting your take).

I agree that the the greater danger seems to be in using non-bank atms,the sort found in stores and restaurants.
Here in the US a co-worker of mine habitually used the atm that is located in a nearby popular coffee shop, she used that is until fraudulent withdrawals started occuring from her bank account without her authorization.
The fraud was traced to the coffee shop's atm.

I don't think we can criticize people for having substantial balances in their checking accounts, especially if we keep advising people to use atms while on vacation. Not everyone has 'someone at home' to replenish the checking account. A better precaution might be to open up a separate account just for the trip (though there could still be a substantial balance in there), or to just hope for the best.
For every bad story about travel woes (pickpocketing, other thefts, bombs,atm problems, scams) there are 90 other people who have had nothing happen to them. I'm not diminishing the bad experience,just saying that most people get through the day or a trip without becoming crime victims, thankfully. We're all playing the odds, all we can do is take some precautions.