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RFClark
Super Nomad
Posts: 2345
Registered: 8-27-2015
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Mood: Looking forward to 2024
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I think we’re talking about this place.
The Pemex is behind the restaurant which has good food. We eat there at times. I have noticed that there are usually a number of people hanging out
between the back of the restaurant and the gas station. Sketchy looking people. Not the best PEMEX sation.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3457
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Interesting read. Got cash from an ATM downtown San Jose, CR. Immediate scam charges. Admit to being paranoid now about possibilities for cc
scam anywhere.
Only carry 2 cards don’t want to deal with my bank on this. Yeah a bit more than 5 minutes to get things straight.
Gas stations? Never ever gonna use a cc.
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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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9312
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by surabi  |
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. |
2hrs, lol. You need to change your bank.
[Edited on 3-6-2023 by JZ]
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9312
Registered: 10-3-2003
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So many itt afraid to change with the times. My dad use to carry a fat wallet with cash too.
I use Venmo or Zelle to send cash 20x more times than using actual cash. Nearly every single person under 30 (maybe 40) in the US has one of the two.
Including a lot of the Mexican immigrants.
Cash is for tipping strippers at the club. 
[Edited on 3-6-2023 by JZ]
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freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
Posts: 617
Registered: 2-24-2007
Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
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I use a Charles Schaab debit card in baja. No transaction fees, easy to cancel a transaction. Not all credit cards are the same do your homework.
Monitor your transactions be proactive. It's easy ,take your money out from under your mattress and make it work for you.
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1689
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by RFClark | The Pemex is behind the restaurant which has good food. We eat there at times. I have noticed that there are usually a number of people hanging out
between the back of the restaurant and the gas station. Sketchy looking people. Not the best PEMEX sation.
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"La Ardilla" = "The Squirrel". I'm hoping that isn't what makes the restaurant good. 
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pauldavidmena
Super Nomad
Posts: 1689
Registered: 5-23-2013
Location: Centerville, MA, USA
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Fraud-ian slip?
My most recent brush with fraud came in the form of an email from the Massachusetts Unemployment Office warning me that I couldn't receive benefits if
I didn't change my PIN. It was immediately fishy because I'm still employed and am not "in the system"! Apparently someone had my name, contact info
and Social Security Number and was trying to use it to get unemployment benefits from the state. The would-be fraud wasn't very bright, adding their
home phone number to my contact info. I had to wait on hold for an hour to clear it up, as it seems there have been a rash of these fraud attempts. My
Social Security Number was exposed in an OMB breach at least 10 years ago - a gift that keeps on giving.
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watizname
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 8-7-2009
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This time I think Goat has it right. Cash. Get it before you leave, and if
you need more, use an ATM in one of the banks to get more. Never trusted cc's in Mexico. Guess I'm just old school, but I like cash.
I yam what I yam and that\'s all what I yam.
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Cancamo
Nomad
Posts: 345
Registered: 4-5-2011
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Traveling in Central and South America over the years, I always kept my cards in a metal sleeve. Card readers where someone could get your information
just by brushing up against you as well as readers inserted in the ATMs were a big problem. This is before the chip, not sure if that makes things
more secure nowadays.
Bottom line is there are sophisticated thieves watching you at the ATM and anywhere you use your card.
Using a credit card anywhere in this country for daily purchases is risky, and if you have not been victimized, consider yourself fortunate. I know of
too many bad experiences of card theft. When you acknowledge that the average cashier/ attendant makes less than $100 for a six day week, you might
reconsider using the plastic at the Pemex or anywhere else.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64524
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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From my same warning on a Facebook group page, 3/5/23:
Dan Vandenheede
Same happened to us, same station two days ago. We were able to put a stop on it as well. Thank you for sharing.
I posted the asvisory on my two groups (VivaBaja, BajaMissions) and on the Baja Overlanding group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajaoverlanding/
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3457
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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David. Ck in? Yur opinion pros cons on cc’s down here.
Cancamo wrote it. Thx for checking in.
Murphy’s Law? See it everyday everywhere. Cosmic joke to see if yur getting 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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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3222
Registered: 5-6-2016
Member Is Offline
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Just because people don't do things the way you do doesn't mean they're "afraid to change with the times", anymore than you portraying those who took
Covid seriously as "cowering in their basements".
[Edited on 3-6-2023 by surabi]
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 535
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living The Dream
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We use our c/c as much as possible in both the US & Baja...we just take precautions. All of our c/c send a text to our cell phones & emails
the moment a charge is initiated, which averages about four to five a week, if that much. No matter where we are...Wal-Mart, Costco, restaurants,
gas stations, I immediately say to the person in Spanish "look, a notification from my bank telling me about this charge." I love seeing the looks
on their faces, something my hubby teases me about.
If we go to a place we are not familiar with or do not feel comfortable, then we will use pesos. We also do not let the c/c leave our table/sight.
If the establishment does not have a wireless c/c terminal, then the hubby will go with the person to the c/c terminal or again we will pay in pesos.
As far as social security numbers, we froze all three of our credit reports, which also freezes the ss# in 2005. Anyone trying to run a credit check
or open an account with your ss# will get declined immediately. Before freezing our reports I confirmed with our insurance companies/banks if this
would be a problem to which all said "no". We have all the c/c we need, we have no intention of buying a different house or car. If that time
comes we can then unfreeze our credit report..as long as you know your PIN # along with the answers to your security question it is a very easy
process. I will say by freezing our credit reports it cuts out all the junk mail that says 'you are preapproved". I also monitor all of our
financial accounts every morning which takes only a few minutes.
To each his own but I would prefer the protection of a c/c instead of a debit card that can drain the cash from your checking/savings account.
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bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2423
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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Add to list do not use CC at pemix Walmart Ensenada . Three times card hacked. Cash is king
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surabi
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3222
Registered: 5-6-2016
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" I would prefer the protection of a c/c instead of a debit card that can drain the cash from your checking/savings account."
When my Canadian Scotiabank debit card was stolen and the thieves immediately used it for an $800 purchase, I did get reimbursed the money. However,
that may not always be the case, I assume.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8807
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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i was at the gas station today using my credit card....
when you pay there is an option for dollars or pesos
if the dollar button is pushed in error, then you pay dollars instead of pesos
BIG difference
could have been an error by the attendant
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I use Pesos for gas and meals in Baja. Credit card usually for hotel but not always. I've had my B of A card used by bad guys a couple of times and
the bank called me, they cancelled the transaction and gave me a new card.
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4199
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: happy - always
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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!” |
local forums have reported elaborate cash scams at that same gas station over the last few days
in a primal society where everybody is out to eff you, your only protection is your own vigilance
and if something goes wrong - don't whine on the forums!
Call the police!
Gringos are such whimps in Baja.
Harald Pietschmann
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64524
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan | i was at the gas station today using my credit card....
when you pay there is an option for dollars or pesos
if the dollar button is pushed in error, then you pay dollars instead of pesos
BIG difference
could have been an error by the attendant |
Did you read my follow up? Same 'accident' happened to others there.
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WideAngleWandering
Nomad
Posts: 390
Registered: 3-13-2012
Location: US-Based but traveling
Member Is Offline
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Since credit cards became more common at Baja gas stations I have been going that route for years, with pesos as a backup. Saves me trips to the ATM.
I have never had an issue but I will be on the lookout. I think I still prefer the credit card over carrying a fat wad of pesos. Worst case is a
call to the credit card company to report fraud.
Traveling the Americas via my old land cruiser
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