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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64545
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Big Pemex Rip Off, near La Paz, yesterday...
One of the people I am in touch with (via inReach) as they travel, wrote me about this incident that happened at the big station, where the road along
the coast, from San Evaristo and San Juan de la Costa, meets Highway One [Km. 17]:
(He emailed me from where he is now staying)
"I don't know if you post this type of stuff, but the Pemex just north of La Paz where 1 meets the coastal highway is a rip off in a big
way. They charged our credit card $1400 US dollars with a bogus credit card machine that showed the charge as "1399MX Hotel" to appear as if it was
pesos at first glance.
"He also told us the charge did not process and we had to pay cash. We caught what was happening 15 minutes after we left and stopped the payment and
all that, but this dude was a pro. Has to be his own credit card machine. I am trying to figure out who to report this to here.
"To add insult to injury, the one time I did not look at the pump to verify "0" our [vehicle] magically holds 24 gallons of fuel in our 19 gallon tank
with a quarter tank left in it.."
[Edited on 3-5-2023 by David K]
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17429
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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When will y’all learn that you should pay cash at gas stations?
There should be a sticky thread on nomad that says: “do not use CC at gas stations!”
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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surfhat
Nomad
Posts: 498
Registered: 6-4-2012
Member Is Offline
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I have always paid for fuel in pesos for the last fifty years with not a single ripoff.
Whether the pumps were 'managed' is not my point. I always have paid in pesos directly to the attendant and always ask for a printed receipt.
Using Antonios Pemex in El Rosario has always been dependable and I never miss topping off there.
This forum is invaluable in getting the word out on who to use and who to avoid. Thanks to Baja Nomad for all [most, haha] of its members paying it
forward for others benefit.
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
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I don't understand using a CC anywhere in Baja. Read
of a guy around the Cape, used a CC for gas, a short while
later used the same card it was declined. Flew back to the US,
the same card was declined. Then he realized the gas station
attendant had kept his card and given him back another and
made charges on his card. I suppose it is convenient, but
never had a problem. Tell the guy who pumps the gas how
much fuel in pesos you want, gas gets dispensed you're
on you're way
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3463
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  | When will y’all learn that you should pay cash at gas stations?
There should be a sticky thread on nomad that says: “do not use CC at gas stations!” |
Attention Nomads. Get yur finances together with pesos. Only the young, naive, inexperienced traveler uses a cc for gas.
Yes, Im making a sweeping generalization for the many who have never been scammed. Ha ha. It’s a matter of time!
(I do use a cc at Cabo Costco and Walmart. That’s it!)
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17429
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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I know so many younger people today that don’t carry cash, and use CC for everything…
Scammers in Mexico must think these people are ripe for the picking.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9375
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | I know so many younger people today that don’t carry cash, and use CC for everything…
Scammers in Mexico must think these people are ripe for the picking.
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Haven't carried cash in the US in 10+ years. Only exceptions are when I know I have to tip someone. What a waste of time to count bills and deal
with silly little coins.
Take cash to MX. But definitely use a CC where they are accepted including gas stations. Never scammed. Even if I was, would just cancel the card
and get the charge reversed. Always have several cards available for this reason.
Why are you clinging to the past and refusing to advance with technology?
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17429
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | I know so many younger people today that don’t carry cash, and use CC for everything…
Scammers in Mexico must think these people are ripe for the picking.
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Haven't carried cash in the US in 10+ years. Only exceptions are when I know I have to tip someone. What a waste of time to count bills and deal
with silly little coins.
Take cash to MX. But definitely use a CC where they are accepted including gas stations. Never scammed. Even if I was, would just cancel the card
and get the charge reversed. Always have several cards available for this reason.
Why are you clinging to the past and refusing to advance with technology?
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I like cash… Cash is cool… credit cards are dorky…
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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Don Pisto
Super Nomad
Posts: 1284
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
Member Is Offline
Mood: weary like everyone else
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I only use cash everywhere here in mex but I gotta say I feel like the lady writing a check in the checkout lane....seems like everyone is using a CC!
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3333
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto | | I only use cash everywhere here in mex but I gotta say I feel like the lady writing a check in the checkout lane....seems like everyone is using a CC!
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Perhaps that's true in Baja, but I seldom see anyone using a CC here on the mainland. Mexican debit cards, yes, NOB CCs, no.
Pretty much the only thing I use a credit card for is booking airline tickets. Cash and debit card for everything else, both in Mexico and Canada.
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1201
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: Originally posted by Lee | | Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666 | When will y’all learn that you should pay cash at gas stations?
There should be a sticky thread on nomad that says: “do not use CC at gas stations!” |
Attention Nomads. Get yur finances together with pesos. Only the young, naive, inexperienced traveler uses a cc for gas.
Yes, Im making a sweeping generalization for the many who have never been scammed. Ha ha. It’s a matter of time!
(I do use a cc at Cabo Costco and Walmart. That’s it!) |
I am neither young at age 79 nor inexperienced after 50 years of Baja travel and use my ATM card regularly and CC once in a while but with precautions
and have never had a problem. I still carry cash but less than in years past. I never let a card go out of my sight. At the gas stations the
attendant uses the wireless terminal that takes my chip/pin card and gives an instant receipt. I have never found a discrepancy between that rcpt and
what has been charged to my account.
I do tend to use the same stations on each trip and use bank atm's only during banking hours in case there is a problem which so far hasn't happened.
Perhaps I have just been lucky but the card system has worked for me and I was always a little concerned about carrying too much cash.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9375
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by surabi |
Perhaps that's true in Baja, but I seldom see anyone using a CC here on the mainland. Mexican debit cards, yes, NOB CCs, no.
Pretty much the only thing I use a credit card for is booking airline tickets. Cash and debit card for everything else, both in Mexico and Canada.
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I had a house in Sonora for 5 years in the early 00's. Used my CC there all the time. Like a thousand times.
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rccali
Junior Nomad
Posts: 27
Registered: 11-15-2022
Member Is Offline
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Only in an emergency would I use a debit or credit card at a business in Mexico. Years ago I had a bag in the trunk of my car stolen with a receipt
that had my debit card number on it that did not include the expiration date. Less then 30 minutes later the thieves were at a Ley supermarket trying
to use the card by guessing the expiration date. There were over 10 attempts before my bank disabled the card due to possible fraud.
I don't take unnecessary risks in Mexico. There are too many people looking to take advantage of Americans. To me it's not worth the trouble.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1691
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
Member Is Offline
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During our most recent trip to Todos Santos, we used a credit card for our rental car and a few established restaurants (Docecuarenta, the Todos
Santos Brewery), but cash virtually everywhere else. The convenience of using plastic everywhere is very tempting, but we pick and choose our
opportunities based a combination of experience and common sense.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9375
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by rccali |
Only in an emergency would I use a debit or credit card at a business in Mexico. Years ago I had a bag in the trunk of my car stolen with a receipt
that had my debit card number on it that did not include the expiration date. Less then 30 minutes later the thieves were at a Ley supermarket trying
to use the card by guessing the expiration date. There were over 10 attempts before my bank disabled the card due to possible fraud.
I don't take unnecessary risks in Mexico. There are too many people looking to take advantage of Americans. To me it's not worth the trouble.
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A 5 min call with the bank would resolve it.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1107
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Cash is king in Baja. I don't use credit card for anything except maybe a motel, but rarely even then.
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Don Pisto
Super Nomad
Posts: 1284
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
Member Is Offline
Mood: weary like everyone else
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Apple pay is here, soon you'll be able to put that plastic in a box with CD's and DVD's. (I'll still be using pesos) 
there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 17429
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by rccali |
Only in an emergency would I use a debit or credit card at a business in Mexico. Years ago I had a bag in the trunk of my car stolen with a receipt
that had my debit card number on it that did not include the expiration date. Less then 30 minutes later the thieves were at a Ley supermarket trying
to use the card by guessing the expiration date. There were over 10 attempts before my bank disabled the card due to possible fraud.
I don't take unnecessary risks in Mexico. There are too many people looking to take advantage of Americans. To me it's not worth the trouble.
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A 5 min call with the bank would resolve it.
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When cc companies cancel a card due to their perceiving fraud attempt, your card is canceled. You can call your cc company, but they won’t
Re-activate it. You are chit out of luck until they mail you a new card.
Sometimes my cc company texts me first to ask if charge attempt was valid. If you miss that text and don’t respond, they go straight to canceling
the card.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9375
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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Do you only have one card or something?
I have 2 debit cards (one for personal and one for my real estate LLC) and 3 different airline cards. Plus a CC I use for business.
Fraud is super rare, at least for me, not sure where you are sticking your card? 
Really the biggest issue I've had is the ATM at Marina Coral in Ensenada ate my debit card.
Truth be told, had more incidents in the US than MX over the years.
[Edited on 3-6-2023 by JZ]
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3333
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ | | Quote: Originally posted by surabi |
Perhaps that's true in Baja, but I seldom see anyone using a CC here on the mainland. Mexican debit cards, yes, NOB CCs, no.
Pretty much the only thing I use a credit card for is booking airline tickets. Cash and debit card for everything else, both in Mexico and Canada.
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I had a house in Sonora for 5 years in the early 00's. Used my CC there all the time. Like a thousand times.
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I said I had seldom seen anyone use CCs on the mainland. That you used your CC a thousand times in Sonora is irrelevant.
And no, it doesn't take 5 minutes to resolve a stolen or fraudulently used CC or debit card. It took a couple hours on the phone when my cards were
stolen and fraudulently used.
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