While in the line crossing back to the US at San Ysidro I have had someone try to get me to open my car window twice. Both times were fairly obvious
scams but would be good enough to fool someone who was confused, scarred and overwhelmed by the chaos near the crossing.
I'm not talking about vendors or beggars. Last night we accidentally got into the Sentri lanes, by the time we realized we were in the wrong spot we
couldn't get out. We were approached by a friendly guy who spoke really good English. He knew we didn't have Sentri and told us it was a $4000 fine
and that he could help. He wanted me to roll down the window. After exchanging some words he left and came back twice each time more aggressive and
insistent. He disappeared as soon as 2 CBP officers came near. We called to them and they helped us out and made it through.
The other time this happened was in the regular lanes about 10 years ago (the last time we drove back through San Ysidro - we have always gone through
Tecate since then until last night) we had a guy who I had seen obviously cruising through the line looking people over. He showed up at our car and
in perfect English tried to sell us a story about being arrested in TJ and loosing all of his things to the police. He said he needed $10 to get back
into the US and tried to sell us a cell phone. He was wearing a gold chain and for other reasons I knew he was lying. He went from nice and earnest to
angry and threatening fairly quickly. He really wanted me to roll down my window.
My question for the board is what would have happened if I opened my window?woody with a view - 12-29-2014 at 01:06 PM
you would have realized the guy(s) needed a shower?
who knows.....Barry A. - 12-29-2014 at 01:10 PM
Richard--------I think you did the right thing. Anything might of happened if you had opened the window, from nothing to
you-really-don't-want-to-know. IMO
BarryDENNIS - 12-29-2014 at 01:14 PM
Never open a window on command of a street jerk unless you have a can of bear spray in the other hand.micah202 - 12-29-2014 at 01:52 PM
.
....who knows,,but congratulations for listening to the little voice of caution, sometimes confused with the little voice of paranoia ,,but both will
keep you safe! richard nauman - 12-29-2014 at 02:37 PM
I did have a big can of Saber Spray and a mag light close at hand but still was not about to open my window. Just was curious if anyone knows the scam for future
reference. Neither time did there seem to be anyone else involved or an obvious weapon.Martyman - 12-29-2014 at 03:08 PM
I talk to all those guys at the border. You probably didn't look at him so he was feeling disrespected and he got peey with you. Be a nice guy and
treat them like a human.
Too many cops around in line for there to be a conflict.David K - 12-29-2014 at 03:16 PM
Like with the window washers, shake your head "No"... if they persist, then take your pointer finger and move it across your throat. That should do
it. richard nauman - 12-29-2014 at 03:23 PM
Martyman - So what are these guys doing? Why do they want my window open? I am mostly just curious.Martyman - 12-29-2014 at 03:25 PM
The guys are trying to get your money. They want to talk to you to throw their scam at you. Listen and say "no senor" do not do what the genius
above said to do.bajacalifornian - 12-29-2014 at 03:54 PM
Just wag your index finger as a no thank you and look ahead.
Universal Spanish understood by most. sancho - 12-29-2014 at 05:08 PM
I don't believe the guy is going to pull out a weapon and
demand $, if that is what you are asking, he just wanted
to press his scam. My buddy is in the TJ jail is another.
I too accidentally ended up in the Sentri at Otay was sent
to secondary don't know if it was a scolding
While in the line crossing back to the US at San Ysidro I have had someone try to get me to open my car window twice. Both times were fairly obvious
scams but would be good enough to fool someone who was confused, scarred and overwhelmed by the chaos near the crossing.
I'm not talking about vendors or beggars. Last night we accidentally got into the Sentri lanes, by the time we realized we were in the wrong spot we
couldn't get out. We were approached by a friendly guy who spoke really good English. He knew we didn't have Sentri and told us it was a $4000 fine
and that he could help. He wanted me to roll down the window. After exchanging some words he left and came back twice each time more aggressive and
insistent. He disappeared as soon as 2 CBP officers came near. We called to them and they helped us out and made it through.
The other time this happened was in the regular lanes about 10 years ago (the last time we drove back through San Ysidro - we have always gone through
Tecate since then until last night) we had a guy who I had seen obviously cruising through the line looking people over. He showed up at our car and
in perfect English tried to sell us a story about being arrested in TJ and loosing all of his things to the police. He said he needed $10 to get back
into the US and tried to sell us a cell phone. He was wearing a gold chain and for other reasons I knew he was lying. He went from nice and earnest to
angry and threatening fairly quickly. He really wanted me to roll down my window.
My question for the board is what would have happened if I opened my window?
One time before the Ready Lanes had the concrete barrier separation from the regular lanes I was trying to inch my way into line and had my window
down. A guy jumped out of his truck yelling that I was too close to him. Then he punched me in the face, breaking my glasses and getting a piece of
glass in my eye. My wife wrote down his CA plate number and took over the driving but by the time we reached the gate in the regular lane he was long
gone. BajaBlanca - 12-29-2014 at 06:59 PM
What happens is that 2 weeks ago, my mom opened the passenger side window and they grabbed her wallet when she was trying to get one dollar to give !
Very upsetting and yeah, dumb in retrospect.micah202 - 12-29-2014 at 08:04 PM
What happens is that 2 weeks ago, my mom opened the passenger side window and they grabbed her wallet when she was trying to get one dollar to give !
Very upsetting and yeah, dumb in retrospect.
....dang,,that's terrible.
...it's hard to say that things aren't devolving in Baja...
. .......or is the definition of 'opportunism' broadening?
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by micah202]rts551 - 12-29-2014 at 08:16 PM
Reach in and grab you by the throat, drag you into the street, and take everything you own. Especially if you drag your finger across your throat.
What were the "CBP" border patrol people doing on the Mexico side ready to help?
I have never seen anything dangerous is line.. too many police and other people around.Gulliver - 12-29-2014 at 09:16 PM
I don't go North that way any more. Too much hassle.
I've only had one seriously irritating scene there and that was far worse for the jerk. Sort of.
I was in line and a window washer guy approached me. I did the smile and did the finger wag thing. He scowled and bashed his gallon jug of dirty soapy
water against my driver's side wiper which knocked it off. I was tired and not in a great mood. It took me about a hundred feet to nail him, hold him
down and pour his filthy water all over him. The other vendors laughed their faces off.
I wouldn't recommend this normally but I'm large and fast and have a testosterone poisoned maniac act that I can crank up when I want to. But no one
bothered me the rest of the wait.
The whole thing backfired anyway. I stuck the stinking wiper back on in a hurry to move with the line and a quarter mile past the border it flew off
in traffic. THEN I was cranked. At myself.richard nauman - 12-29-2014 at 09:21 PM
The CBP guys were on foot real close to the first Sentri both when my wife flagged them down. We were still back in line a a little - maybe 10 or 15
cars. There is a gap in the concrete barriers blocked with cones that they moved and got us from the Sentri and into the Ready Lanes. My buddies ahead
of us who made the same mistake but ended up at the Sentri booth got a short scolding and sent to secondary.
It was not big deal in the end and I wasn't to worried about the dude. I am mostly curious about how his pitch ends and how often he is successful. I
figured his most likely goal was getting people to give him their extra pesos they have left over from their trip.Canadian hey - 12-29-2014 at 10:36 PM
When you travel back into the states , what lane does one have to take ,
Why two differant ones , can someone tell me what's the differant ,
Please and thanks bajabuddha - 12-29-2014 at 10:44 PM
When you travel back into the states , what lane does one have to take ,
Why two differant ones , can someone tell me what's the differant ,
Please and thanks
It's really quite simple; the other lane always goes much faster, regardless of your choice. Gulliver - 12-29-2014 at 10:46 PM
That's why I always go either way through Tecate. Only one lane. (grin)BajaBlanca - 12-30-2014 at 04:35 AM
The sentri lanes are to the far right in Tijuana. Stay in the left lanes and you are fine.
What is confusing is the sign to get into the san diego/ USA lane as you come from .ensenada. It is slightly to the right of the proper lane and we
zoomed into the incorrect lane. When you see that sign, stay one lane to the left and it will pass you on the passenger side of the vehicle.
I don't go North that way any more. Too much hassle.
I've only had one seriously irritating scene there and that was far worse for the jerk. Sort of.
I was in line and a window washer guy approached me. I did the smile and did the finger wag thing. He scowled and bashed his gallon jug of dirty soapy
water against my driver's side wiper which knocked it off. I was tired and not in a great mood. It took me about a hundred feet to nail him, hold him
down and pour his filthy water all over him. The other vendors laughed their faces off.
I wouldn't recommend this normally but I'm large and fast and have a testosterone poisoned maniac act that I can crank up when I want to. But no one
bothered me the rest of the wait.
You beat up a squeegee man? At least you didnt beat up a street urchin selling chiclets.
Really, you should not beat up the poorest of the poor. It does not impress the women. Skipjack Joe - 12-30-2014 at 10:47 AM
I have more trouble with the cops than the beggars.
Save all your loose change and look for those in wheel chairs or missing limbs. The genuine poor and in distress are obvious.Pompano - 12-30-2014 at 10:56 AM
Open window events....
You get to meet 'Boy' and the Roswell alien's Love Child.
And he wrote most of Evis's songs!
fixtrauma - 12-30-2014 at 11:20 AM
He is just waiting to get paid for it!
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by fixtrauma]theotherone - 12-30-2014 at 01:32 PM
Most likely nothing would happen, but if you feel uneasy don't open the window. The worst thing that could happen is that they could steal something
that was in arms reach and/or tell you a hard luck story.
I generally ignore the various "con-artists & junkies" that tend to harass people at the border. Years ago there were a lot more, but now it's
significantly less probably due to the increased numbers of Mexican Police at the San Ysidro Crossing.
