Money & ATM Scams in Lhasa

Card-Capture and Fake ATMs in the Tibetan Quarter

Standalone cash machines in Lhasa's tourist lanes have started appearing in reports as card-capture devices: the machine swallows the card and does not return it, either because a retention shim has been fitted to the slot or because the unit itself was placed by a criminal group rather than a bank. The traveller leaves to find help, the card is retrieved by whoever fitted the device, and withdrawals follow if a PIN was observed. This matters more in Lhasa than in a Chinese tier-one city because foreign cards already work poorly, mobile payment usually requires a Chinese bank link, and losing your only functioning card mid-tour leaves you dependent on cash you may not be able to replace before your permit window closes.