ATM use ; any problems / fraud?

I've used my debit card in more than a dozen European countries over the years and I've never been the victim of fraud. I used it in Portugal in 2018. (In Croatia and Slovenia just this last fall.) Lots of Rick Steves forums members have used their cards all over Europe without issue.

I would try to use the ATM at an actual bank. Avoid Euronet ATMs just because they charge a higher commission than others.

Consider getting a Charles Schwab debit card - free if you deposit $100 in your account. They don't charge any fee for using your ATM card anywhere and even refund any fees the ATM itself might charge you.

Your bank's employees are cute, but not well-informed on this subject. Thank them with a smile, and ignore their well-meaning but misguided advice in this case.

ATM fraud is the same in Portugal as in in your home town. That is, it exists, but if you are paying any attention at all, you are unlikely to get suckered by some sort of ATM scam, with one exception.

Watch out for the scourge of "Dynamic Currency Conversion" aka DCC, any time you use a credit or debit card, including when you go to pull cash (in Euros, of course) directly from your home account at an ATM. If/when you see any screen offering you the "convenience" of paying (or withdrawing money) in dollars or your own currency, always so NO. DCC is a legal scam, whereby you get socked with currency conversion rates and fees that would make a mafia loan shark blush. Watch for this any time you charge something to your credit card, and also when you pull cash from an ATM.

Many banks in Portugal use the Multibanco ATMs. I used my ATM card in October at Multibanco ATMs in Lisbon and Coimbra, with no fraud.

I’ve never had an issue with a fraudulent ATM machine or transaction - travel every year to Europe. But, I also don’t agree with your first sentence. I never get money at an airport. That’s the time when I have jet lag. Trying to perform a monetary transaction when I have a fuzzy, tired brain would be the situation where I could have a money issue - not being careful with my card or using an ATM that appears to be a bank one but really isn’t.

I always either order some Euros ahead of time from my bank, or I start with Euros leftover from my last trip. Then I only use ATM’s in Europe when the ATM’s bank is open - ideally inside the lobby area. It’s safer for me as a solo traveler to not be on the street when I’m returning my ATM card & stashing my money into my money belt.

I have been victim of ATM fraud once, years ago, in Victoria BC. I made a mistake of using an ATM that was not located at a bank, but was outside the official visitors center. The next day about $2000 of purchases were made in New York City before the bank recognized fraud and shut the card down. The following day, all monies had been returned to my account by the bank and a new card was on the way.

I learned about “skimmers” the hard way……….

There are two things working in your favor. First of all, cash is being used less and less, even in everyday transactions. The number of times you will need to access an ATM overseas will be quite few. Secondly, banks are pretty good at catching fraud. In my case (Charles Schwab Bank) they made me whole within 24 hours.

You should always have more than one credit card or debit card with you in case one is shut down, you still have another you can access.

After living here for over seven years and using debit cards from my U.S. and Portuguese banks, I’ve never had a problem with fraud. I’ve had my credit card hacked twice when I went back to the US to visit, though!

I agree with the others about using a machine associated with a bank, if possible. And, be certain the machine says Multibanco on it.

Your biggest money worry in Portugal is the potential for pickpockets, especially in the bigger cities.

Thank you, everyone , so very much for your insight on my question and concern over using the ATM. We will wait until we get to a Multibanco ATM at a bank and decline DCC. We will not use it at airport as that may be similar situation as using one near a visitor’s center. When we get back home, I will look into Charles Schwab account w ATM and use just for travel. All of your replies were appreciated and informative.

Waiting until arrival is the least expensive way to get local currency. But remember this: if you wait until arrival to get Euros, there is the inconvenience of having to find a machine, waiting to access it, the stress of hoping it works (they do occasionally malfunction and / or run out of currancy), and doing all that while somewhat jet lagged. Some think it's better to have some Euros in hand before arrival, and get two or three hundred Euros beforehand from their local bank. It will cost a little more, but the amount it cost to have money in hand when arriving is money well spent, and the cost relative to the overall cost of the trip is next to nothing.

It's really just a matter of preference. No matter what you do, check with your bank and credit card companues to see if you need to put a travel alert on your account(s). They may see a foreign transaction, suspect fraud, and shut down access to your credit and ATM cards. Some banks require it and some don't.

Fraud is rampant at ATMs and with credit cards, everywhere. I wonder if those at your bank commenting have first hand experience IN Portugal with fraud. Sometimes when you pursue comments like those it turns out that they had a friend/uncle/friend of a cousin that had a bad experience in some other country, even continent. I would be more concerned about someone bringing a wad of cash on vacation as to avoid possible fraud and lose it or are a victim of pickpockets.

My daughter was recently a victim of fraud to her debit card in Hawaii where she is a student. Someone purchased $500 worth of bitcoin. The credit union was all over this and issued a new card and refunded the money. Had she lost cash, there is no remedy.

Over the years, I have had thousands of euros from ATMs in Portugal, Spain and France and never had any fraud issues (other than Santander trying to charge me €7 bank fees to withdraw cash in Spain!).