Fake currency warning
 

Landed yesterday in Argentina and took money from citi ATM outside customs At eze

Withdrew 600 and turns out 2/3 of it was fake

Word to the wise ... Check ALL currency you get. Whatever the source

How did you determine it was fake? And what did you do/the bank say when you brought this to their attention?

These are big details - I just got to BA today and am about to head to an ATM myself. Please post back.

Nice little earner for the bloke who fills the machine. :td:

Im sorry this happened to you. Are you certain the fake cash was from the ATM machine...? What were you paying when you realized this... or did you yourself discover the fakes once you left EZE...? Did anybody else handle the cash before the fakes were brought to your attention...?

I dont mean to doubt you... and fakes in ATM machines are not impossible, although it is a very rare occurence. This is because ATM's are loaded by at least 2 (two) bank staff, so both would almost certainly have to be in on the scam to have this work... also, an offsite ATM location such as EZE has further issues that involve more staff in the loading process because, among others, this location gets provided with cash from an armoured truck service so when the ATM itself if loaded, even more folks are involved in the process.

In many cases, folks take cash from an ATM and they go into a store or want to pay a taxi, in most instances, it is at the time of the payment transaction that their bills get swapped for fakes....

Regardless of what happened, Im very sorry you have had this inconvenience and hope it doesnt ruin your overall trip experience.

Im not the OP, but this case is a little more complicated than usual because the cited ATM is not part of a Citibank branch, its a stand alone ATM - this means there is no bank office or bank teller where you can go and file a complaint right after you get your cash....

Ive posted above asking the OP some details, as for me its still not 100% clear that the ATM's dispensed cash is to blame.

Yes that's a very good point.....as is the one about two bank employees filling the machine.
Although I remember the ballyhoo a few years ago when old folk were being paid out their pensions in dodgy notes at certain banks.

Have you had ANY mones transaction in between taking out the money and realizing the fake bills? If so unfortunately it is more likely that you have been scammed.

Another popular one is to change bills with lower numbers on it.

Scary ..:confused::confused:

Thanks for the heads up!

Its too bad the OP was not able to come back to this thread and provide more details.... I still think that the chances of getting funny money out of an ATM are very slim. Its almost always product of interaction with some shady merchant or Taxi Driver where the "switcheroo" takes place..... :(

Good blog write up on this
 

All,

Coincidentally, I came across a good write up on a blog on this. On one hand makes me cringe to think that I have add another "worry" in preparation for my trip to AR.

http://santelmoloft.com/2011/07/22/f...-in-argentina/

Cheers!

btw: this blog author has some nice tips on the F&B in BA. Am thinking of trying out the Aramburu recommendation.

Both times I arrived at EZE this year, the Citi machine described was not working. At the time, I thought it was a problem - I ended up finding the nearest ATM to the MTL bus station on Antarctica after cashless transit - but now, I realize it was a good thing!