The famous Euronet ATM machines, featured on “The Honest Guide” of Prague, have been spotted in a mall in Cluj. Areound the same time we found that machine, police saw someone wanted for murder in France. Fortunately, police picked up the individual wanted for murder. However, the scam ATM is still operating.
Basically, Euronet ATM can charge between 13 and 18 percent more than an exchange office. A mediocre exchange office. It pretends like it’s a better deal, but I guess that’s only if you are Monty Brewster from Brewster’s Millions.
Why do people use the Euronet ATM? Ignorance. I mean, I guess it could be worse, it could be one of those ATMs that is rigged to steal your card and your pin. But, almost any other ATM in Cluj (or Prague) will give you a better rate.
It is advisable to use an ATM from a Romanian bank (or an international bank that operates in Romania). Most vendors these days accept card payments anyway (apart from a few market traders or kiosk sellers, and they will only accept payment in lei.)
So, yes, avoid Euronet ATMs. Use one of the other ATMs nearby, by BCR, BRD, LibraBank, First bank, Unicredit, Raiffeissen, Intesa SanPaolo, Banca Transilvania, or if you can find one, Alpha Bank of ING bank.