How to cope with card cancellation for fraudulent transactions while overseas

[u/cmcqueen1975]

I have a VISA debit card on my ING account. I was in Thailand for a week. Before I went, I did "set travel alert" in the ING app for the designated dates.

While in Thailand, several fraudulent transactions appeared on the card overnight. I got an SMS notification of detected fraudulent transactions from ING. I disputed the bad transactions, and ING blocked the card.

ING's follow-up support was minimal. They didn't provide any information about how I could access my money without the card. I asked through their online chat; they basically said use another card for another bank account if you have it with you, or else get money from a friend. I asked if they could provide a virtual card with Google Pay on Android; they said I must receive and authorise the new real card before Google Pay can be set up.

I'm not sure how the card was compromised. I had used it for a few in-person payments, a few PayWave payments, and a few ATM withdrawals. I'd made a majority of payments with cash.

Positives:

• Fraudulent transactions were detected and notified quickly.

Negatives:

• Suddenly having my card cancelled is chaotic. Having it happen while holidaying overseas compounds the chaos.
• I'm home now, and still waiting for a replacement card over a week later.
• ING couldn't provide a virtual card to use via Android NFC Google Pay.

Questions:

1. Are there other Australian banks which provide better support for card cancellation in this scenario? Eg
   • Sending a replacement card quickly.
   • Providing quick set up of a virtual card for payment with Google Pay etc.
   • Some sort of service for doing cash withdrawals overseas without the card.
2. Are there any banks which provide an option for extra security to avoid card fraud, such as 2-factor authentication through on the bank app for each transaction? (though I guess banks consider the card compromised once someone has got the main card details).
3. Any tips for minimising the chance of card fraud while overseas in Thailand etc?

[u/GrowingCurator_41]

ubank let me use google pay right after signing up, no card needed first. up bank does too i think. its wild that ing still makes you wait for plastic in 2026

for thailand always use cash when you can, skimmers are everywhere on those atms. next time bring 2 cards from different banks and keep them separate, saved me once in bali

[u/antsypantsy995 → u/GrowingCurator_41]

I feel like a lot of banks / institutions still force you to wait for plastic before you can use your card (digital or physical). Hell Amex still doesnt offer an option to view your card details in the app in the instances where you have to enter in your card details manually and you dont have your physical card on you (i.e. CVV number and expiry date), despite this being a functionaliy of most Australian banks in 2026.

[u/Simply_charmingMan]

Years ago my credit card was canceled 2 weeks into a 6 week away trip, but in those days you carried a ton of cash too.

These days a virtual card in apple or andorid pay, online payments with a second virtual card that you keep locked unless purchasing, never use a physical card if you can help it, then carry several different account cards as in CC, and lastly have a decent anount of cash.

[u/Recent_Log_5799]

I never travel without multiple credit cards and multiple debit cards. Considering that there are plenty of free debit card options, there's no reason not to have multiple stored on your digital wallet just in case. 

[u/DominusDraco]

I always take 2 credit cards when going overseas as my only card got cancelled due to a fraud payment (compromised hotel) just before a trip a couple of years back.
I recommend paying using your phone tap instead of using the card if you can when overseas, as payments from phones are tokenised, so they cant steal your card details.
The other option is a wise card or similar, so you are only losing the access to the cash you have in the account, not your main savings account for instance.

[u/CatsCatsDoges]

I worked as a banker at another bank and can prove some general advice (as I don’t know what their processes are). Basically when there’s been a fraudulent transaction - the card needs to be cancelled and replaced, that’s kinda just it.

Generally if our fraud team detects something they place a temporary fraud block and when the customer makes contact can discuss unblocking it, but then the customer becomes liable for any future fraudulent transactions. 

I will say it does suck they didn’t go over anything with you though - if you have your card set up on your digital wallet, my bank will auto update that to the new card so you can still use it. Also an emergency card could be an option (this is through Visa Global, and I assume Mastercard has a similar thing). I think there’s also emergency cash but I’ve never had to action it so not sure on the process.

My advice when travelling it always take a back up card - and even better if it’s another financial institution. It’s actually pretty common and people don’t plan for it.

[u/Optimal-Orange-599]

It’s not cheap (esp with the forex fees) but I’ve found Amex to be really good in the past.

Years ago, I gave my sister a supplementary of my charge card to use for emergencies when she went travelling. She got her purse stolen. She called amex and her replacement card arrived the next day at her hotel.

[u/Wombats_poo_cubes]

I take like 4 cards from different banks.

[u/beerboy80 → u/Wombats_poo_cubes]

Same. I used to travel to random countries in SE Asia for work. Usually no longer than a few days at each location. Always had about 3-4 cards with me. 3 large banks (including one HSBC because they're everywhere in SEA) and an Amex (because support was "local").

[u/Fluid_Garden8512]

Visa sent me an overnight emergency card within 24 hours via DHL the last time this happened to me. And I was in Mexico at the time.