jody
Instead of blocking out the signature line I do not sign the card but write in 'see photo identification'.
As you noted however, very few salespersons bother to check the back side of the credit cards.
At least any thief won't have my signature.

In addition to the excellent suggestions about using ATMs only during the daylight and with someone "standing guard", I'd like to add use them only at bank sites when the banks are open. If your card is stuck or there is a problem, you can get help right away.

I don't want people getting ready to travel to think that this fraud is rampant. Just use caution.

While in Italy, a few weeks ago, we used our ATM card daily without any problems.

Ditto KathrynT's advice. Our ATM was "eaten" on Saturday morning of a 3-day weekend. Tuesday we drove back to that town, but really to no avail since we had cancelled the card (thus no longer good) in case the machine arbitrarily spit it back out to someone.

A couple of points

At least in Britain many issuers are keen to give you their cards, so I always travel with four cards. Only one is in my pocket: the others are with my passport in the hotel safe. If one goes out of use I still eat.

I did like the word socialist in this correspondence. As I read it, these entrepreneurs are living up to the Reagan and Thatcher zeal for self-advancement without reliance on the state.

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You can demand a replacement card to be overnighted. We lost all our credit cards (I know---dumb,dumb,dumb, but you learn a LOT this way) and did not discover it until renting a car in Avignon. Thanks to the time difference we notified all the credit card companies and requested immediate replacement. One arrived the next morning and others within the next 2 days.

J Moulin is my home pc ID.

To answer some of your questions;

-My bank card kept being rejected as daily limits are placed by most foreign banks on what you can withdraw (something to be aware of). The creep offered to help and quickly hit buttons on the outdoor ATM, simultaneouly grabbing my card. I did push his hand away, too late.

This was at an outdoor ATM, on a Sunday morning, in St. Remy. on the main circular road.

The guillotine would be too good for him.

I agree with Ben Haines about taking several credit cards! I haven't had a card "eaten", but rejected very early in the morning as I was checking out of my Paris hotel. The shuttle airport was due to arrive shortly, and I was extremely upset. In fact, 2 cards were rejected, (and needless to say, I had plenty of credit on those cards!). Fortunately, I gave them my American Express, and it worked. Now before any international trip, I call the issuing banks to tell them where I'll be, and when, and I always take about 4 cards.
Now, hearing about these ATM scams,I definitely will!

Just about all taxi's and shuttles, at least from CDG, take credit cards. So if you can't get money from the ATM at the airport, ask the taxi driver to stop by one on the way to your hotel. ((b))