BajaNomad - The top ten scams in Baja

The top ten scams in Baja

BajaNuts - 5-15-2008 at 04:43 PM

Hi Nomads. what would you guys think are the 10 most common scams that NOOBS get gaught in,read a lot of good info about stuff on here,that I think a lot of people would like to know;there must be more.

Oh yeah see posts about solar systems,I am a Elecrtical contractor member of the I.B.E.W so if i can help just ask

MR. BajaNuts :lol:

Iflyfish - 5-15-2008 at 04:56 PM

Fuel scams at the pump is numero uno imho, and I have very few ho's anymore.

Iflyfish

Hook - 5-15-2008 at 05:03 PM

In a city, exhorbitant cab fares that are not established before you get there.

Car rentals charges for dings that were there when you rented it.

Udo - 5-15-2008 at 05:38 PM

WHAT THE HECK IS A NOOB?

Capt. George - 5-15-2008 at 05:53 PM

noob, perhaps as in "newbie"?

DENNIS - 5-15-2008 at 05:56 PM

Stop signs that don't exist and green lights that are red.

BajaWarrior - 5-15-2008 at 05:59 PM

I had a guy back into me in traffic once in T.J. and claimed I ran into him!

Udo - 5-15-2008 at 06:01 PM

...noob...newbie...that could work!
The only scam that I got taken for was about twelve years ago in Guerrero Negro. That was the gas scam where I figgired I paid about $15.00 more than I should have. And the guy even used a calculator to show me where I was wrong in my calculations.
Just remember...Pesos are about ten to one vs. the US dollar, and four liters is a little over one gallon. And I'm sure you know how many gallons your vehicle holds.

4baja - 5-15-2008 at 07:08 PM

gasssssssssssssssss!!!!!!

vandenberg - 5-15-2008 at 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4baja
gasssssssssssssssss!!!!!!

True, but it's only around $ 2.50 a gallon and even after getting screwed for about 20% it's still cheaper then California.

805gregg - 5-15-2008 at 09:07 PM

Ya wanna buy some real estate?

cpg - 5-15-2008 at 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Stop signs that don't exist and green lights that are red.

Very true

BajaNuts - 5-15-2008 at 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg
Ya wanna buy some real estate?

Been there seen that,waiter check please.

Good stuff keep it coming :light:

rogerj1 - 5-15-2008 at 09:54 PM

Selling property without having full title. I've been offered loans backed by property where the borrower had tied up property by putting money down but hadn't paid it off yet. They even had official looking paperwork from the title company. It wasn't until I hired a Mexican attorney that I learned they didn't own the property outright. They then proceeded to insult my attorney claiming he didn't understand real estate law!

rogerj1 - 5-15-2008 at 10:00 PM

Another scam, more of a hassle than anything else, are the "helpful" people behind the counters at the Cabo airport after you leave security, who are really pushing time share tours. It's very disorienting the first time you go through it.

roamingthroughbaja - 5-16-2008 at 06:29 AM

Here's one. Have you ever had a guy visit your house and tell you he is a exterminator? He has equipment, chemicals, a business card, puts his quote in writing and gives you a receipt and a written guarantee. Three weeks later, the termites are back. You call him to come and respray. Ha ha. When I took my complaint to PROFECO, it turned out that the address on the business card was not complete, ie, no colonia name and did not exist. He blocked my calls on his cell, and hung up if I called from another number. Be aware that PROFECO has rules about making sure of the identity of the person you are complaining about. After this experience, we don't get any more door to door services. We need to see where the office is.

Bye the way, the guy's business is Terminaciones Sol.

Todo Santos

The Gull - 5-16-2008 at 06:38 AM

Here's the scam: It is a safe, quaint Mexican town where Gringos can live with a high quality of life. None of those terms are accurate.

Natalie Ann - 5-16-2008 at 07:05 AM

After reading this thread, I feel the need to say...

My car incident is the ONLY time I can remember having any sort of problem with the people or agencies of Baja Sur in all my years of travel here - and most always I travel alone. My overall experience is that of being treated with great kindness and friendship by the Mexicans I have met - I have made many good friends.

I had only pleasant experiences in Ensenada last year.

Being among Pacenos again makes my heart sing and I am delighted to be in the La Paz area. I'm not going to allow some dumb rental car agency to change my feelings about that.

Nena

oldlady - 5-16-2008 at 07:19 AM

Anything having to do with building a house.

thebajarunner - 5-16-2008 at 07:35 AM

One way streets that don't have "one way" signs.

but they do have El Vigilante lurking down the street in front of a small one way sign that his black and white is neatly blocking...

bajalou - 5-16-2008 at 08:20 AM

Does getting a speeding ticket when only going 1.6 times the posted speed count? Or a ticket for running stop sign when you did a "Hollywood Stop"?

bajalou - 5-16-2008 at 08:28 AM

In San Felipe, both my wife and I have been caught by (the same guy?) with - "I remember you, you live in Eldorado, I'm a Security guy there and my car is in the shop. I've got 5 K of fresh shrimp I'll give you if you'll lend me $20 till this afternoon. I'll be at the main entrance, go on duty at 2pm. I'll have your money and the shrimp"

[Edited on 5-16-2008 by bajalou]

fulano - 5-16-2008 at 09:56 AM

If this thread continues, they're gonna have to rename this website the "Anti-Baja Nomad" message board.

:spingrin:

QUE LINDO QUE NO?

ELINVESTIG8R - 5-16-2008 at 12:02 PM

[Edited on 5-16-2008 by ELINVESTI8]

DENNIS - 5-16-2008 at 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalou
Does getting a speeding ticket when only going 1.6 times the posted speed count? Or a ticket for running stop sign when you did a "Hollywood Stop"?

Well, let's see. If it's posted 60, you would be doing 90+. Maybe that's ticket-worthy.
The Hollywood Stop is OK within reason. The signs say ALTO. That doesn't mean PARK.

bajamigo - 5-16-2008 at 12:34 PM

No, park is "ceda el paso."

DianaT - 5-16-2008 at 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by roamingthroughbaja
Here's one. Have you ever had a guy visit your house and tell you he is a exterminator? He has equipment, chemicals, a business card, puts his quote in writing and gives you a receipt and a written guarantee. Three weeks later, the termites are back. You call him to come and respray. Ha ha. When I took my complaint to PROFECO, it turned out that the address on the business card was not complete, ie, no colonia name and did not exist. He blocked my calls on his cell, and hung up if I called from another number. Be aware that PROFECO has rules about making sure of the identity of the person you are complaining about. After this experience, we don't get any more door to door services. We need to see where the office is.

Bye the way, the guy's business is Terminaciones Sol.

OMG
I think that is the name of the company that made it all the way out to Bahia Asuncion. They were from La Paz----a real scam, indeed.

But not all door to door are scams. Before mother's day we bought some beautiful tiger lilies and before Christmas some beautiful poinsettas (sp). So there are some out of town door to door salespeople we appreciate as there is no where here we could have bought those plants.

Diane

DENNIS - 5-16-2008 at 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajamigo
No, park is "ceda el paso."

I yield to the logical explanation.

rob - 5-16-2008 at 04:31 PM

I almost never argue with a three-star Nomad, but I think "Ceda el Paso" has something to do with trees ahead . . no I believe I am correct when I say PARK is "Estacio-something prohibido".

DENNIS - 5-16-2008 at 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rob
I almost never argue with a three-star Nomad, but I think "Ceda el Paso" has something to do with trees ahead . . no I believe I am correct when I say PARK is "Estacio-something prohibido".

Actually and truthfully, all you say is almost absolutly close to something or other 'cause Park is translated as "Parque" and "Ceda El Paso" means "Pass On Peeing Around The Cedar Trees." Mexico loves her Cedar trees almost as much as the Lesbians in Lesbinon do.

[Edited on 5-16-2008 by DENNIS]

Pappy Jon - 5-18-2008 at 06:39 AM

Quote:

I love the guy at the state line that sprays your car down with "insecticide" and then sticks his hand out for $2. Problem is, I know what Malathion smells like, and the stuff they are spraying has the sweet scent of Dihydrogen Monoxide.

[Edited on 5-18-2008 by Pappy Jon]

Dihydrogen Monoxide

The Gull - 5-18-2008 at 06:48 AM

Doesn't that cause many deaths every year, around the world?

From now on, I am going around that stop to the west of GN.

dtbushpilot - 5-18-2008 at 08:18 AM

After I pay the guy I roll slowly over the tope and then take off like a dragster. I don't think I get much on me.

Terry28 - 5-18-2008 at 10:24 AM

For the last 3 years we have told the guy that sprays that we don't want him to spray as our dog hates it...(sometimes we even have a dog!!) pay the 10 pesos and drive on...no spray...no problermo....

DENNIS - 5-18-2008 at 12:20 PM

Nasty stuff.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_monoxide_hoax

BMG - 5-18-2008 at 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pappy Jon

the sweet scent of Dihydrogen Monoxide.

"DANGER WATER - CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS OF HYDROGEN - KEEP OUT"

alkijeff - 5-18-2008 at 11:01 PM

In all the years I've spent travelling Baja, the biggest scam I've encountered was just recently. Having only 3 weeks of vacation we decided to rent a house instead of driving from Seattle. We were able to book a house through VRBO for two weeks in the Bahia de Concepcion area, and another in Loreto. The house in Concepion was fantastic and beyond our expectations. The "house" in Loreto turned out to be a converted RV space at Loreto Shores RV Park. They listed it as a "house", which it wasn't, and described a "secluded beach" which turned out to be a rocky, unswimable low bank waterfront backed up by a long row of motel-like units (the converted RV spaces). They advertised it as "kid friendly", but we got a rude reception as soon as we arrived (we have 4 kids, hence our decision to rent a house and not a hotel, especially an RV Park). In nearly 20 years of travelling Baja, I've been ripped off once by a mordida-hungry cop in La Paz, but that was small change. This one, at Loreto Shores RV Park cost me over $180 a night for six long nights. This, the deceptive VRBO ad, is the biggest scam I've ever encountered in Baja. And they're all gringos.

Bajajorge - 5-19-2008 at 08:19 AM

Twenty one liters into a 19 liter gas can??? Don't nobody give me the expanded plastic gas can routine. It was a metal can.

SCAMS

bajajazz - 5-19-2008 at 11:53 AM

One of the worst scams I've seen here is perpetrated by the drivers who deliver the 30 and 45 kilo propane tanks. A common trick is to exchange your empty tank for a like-sized tank that's supposedly "full."

Not. Necessarily.

Often, they'll give you a tank that's a known leaker they've been required to pick up and replace. So the tank they'll try to palm off on you is both a leaker and a short-weight.

Before I switched to a stationary tank they pulled this one on me a couple of times. I learned to weigh every tank they delivered and also pour a liter of water over it to discover leaks. The leaks seemed to occur at the top of the tank near the shoulder. The tanks had been freshly painted and looked okay but their actual condition was like the equipment of the Russian army, "paint over rust."

Examine the top of the tank and you'll find the weight of the tank when it's empty, add that to the number of kilos the tank holds and that's what the tank should weigh, total. If it's more than a couple of pounds off make the driver replace it with an honest weight. You'll only have to do this once, maybe twice, and the word will get out you can't be scammed.

Cheating on the weight is bad enough, but intentionally delivering leaky tanks is really a low-life stunt.

rob - 5-19-2008 at 04:14 PM

Bajajazz, I have some bad news for you. I should have written about this sooner.

I buy 35kg tanks in bulk here at the ranch (10-12 at a time, and the Caligas guy finds it worthwhile to make the trip). Just before Christmas, one of my guys bought a tank, and I remembered that this was the second tank in two months - unusual.

He told me the tank he had was empty much sooner than usual, but was still relatively heavy and had liquid propane in it, he coujldn't understand it. You guessed!! It WAS still rather heavy, and there WAS liquid still there - WATER!!! It sprayed all over the place (and stank too) when we vented the tank.

This is a particularly nasty scam, because (you all know I am physics-challenged) I am darned if I can think of a way to figure out BEFORE breaking the seal (after which Caligas tell you to go to hell) whether the weight and slosh is all propane, or propane and water. I am certain the plastic-sealed top was intact (but that's easy to fake - just steal a box of them at work).

What is less clear is who is making the bucks. You would have to bleed off the gas into a spare tank, put in the water, then refill to pressure with propane, melt on your stolen sealers . . .

Seems like a LOT of work. What have I missed?

BMG - 5-19-2008 at 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
Twenty one liters into a 19 liter gas can??? Don't nobody give me the expanded plastic gas can routine. It was a metal can.

Milagro!

BAJACAT - 5-19-2008 at 09:22 PM

mexican girl telling a gringo , Im pregnant with your baby, Im three months already,gringo replys "I JUST MEET YOU 3 DAYS AGO."

One way ticket to USA.
it happend to my uncle,the funny thing is my uncle was a Mexican citizen,and the girl thought he had a green card.