twogringos
Nomad
Posts: 184
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Location: Bahia Asuncion/Color-Country
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Mood: I feel more like I do now than I ever have before
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Be aware in La Paz
There is a major pickpocket operation in La Paz right now. The MO is to put some substance (looks like blood or poop) on your car or your back then
offer to help you remove it. During the diversion or rubdown your wallet/purse are gone. It's happened on the Malecon, the marinas, Walmart,
Liverpool - where ever gringos are found. At a minimum don't let them help. If you can get a photo, take it to the Tourist police on the Malecon, or
call 911.
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mtgoat666
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 20162
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Best solution for pickpockets, don’t use a wallet.
Keep money in front pocket.
Put license and a couple cards in a small/thin card holder, keep in front pocket.
Haven’t used a fat a$$ (back pocket) wallet in decades…
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...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.”
Pronoun: the royal we
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4443
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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the thieves love the increased tourism in La Paz
Harald Pietschmann
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tiotomasbcs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1837
Registered: 7-30-2007
Location: El Pescadero
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Same thing has happened in Todos Santos recently! Some liquid spilled on you and they lift the wallet during the confusion!
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geoffff
Senior Nomad
Posts: 710
Registered: 1-15-2009
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Apparently this messy liquid pickpocket thing is a worldwide scam to look out for whenever you go to touristy places.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/paris-b...
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4x4abc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4443
Registered: 4-24-2009
Location: La Paz, BCS
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Mood: happy - always
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I see pick-pocketing as a legitimate business
you have to learn some skills and you have to be out every day
Wall Street guys do it from a desk
Harald Pietschmann
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advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1916
Registered: 10-2-2015
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I've put my wallet in my front pocket for 30 years, make me keep it small and compact. Sitting on that big lump will jack your back all up..
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13241
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Les had his wallet in his front pocket as he always does and even so, he caught a woman's hand in the pocket in Athens! She slithered away when he
called her out, pretending to be heading to her seat on the subway.
I only recently heard of the liquid scene, I am sure human instinct has you look, even momentarily, to see what is going on.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65350
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Even in the 80s, when I toured Europe, we were warned about 'gypsies' at highway rest stops and to be mindful of your wallet. Gypsies were free to
cross borders as a nomadic people by International agreement.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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I wear a cross shoulder bag, zipped shut, zippers next to body. I keep money, ID & credit cards inside the bag in a zipped pocket. In the main
body of my purse I keep a decoy wallet with an expired license, a few pesos and dollars and old credit cards from accounts that don't exist anymore.
I used to wear a backpack but got tired of having it hanging on my chest in sketchy areas.
So far so good.
[Edited on 11-18-2021 by BajaMama]
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2751
Registered: 5-10-2011
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I carry small wallet in front for ID and cards. Thieves can still get into your front pocket but this is more difficult. And money pouch under pants
- for when I need more than just a few bills, usually when traveling to no-ATM destinations. Pull it out, shove it back in. Some will have to shed a
few pounds, he he... There are also small neck wallets that you can carry under T-shirt and pull out when needed, to replace a small wallet in your
pocket but I found them uncomfortable in a hot weather.
[Edited on 11-23-2021 by Alm]
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greengoes
Select Nomad
Posts: 10321
Registered: 6-27-2011
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Mood: Today I slay the Red Dot.
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There is a scam like that going on in Ensenada near the Starbucks. Two young girls come up and offer to help clean the goop off your back.
So far I have lost two wallets, a money belt, and two fanny packs.
Be careful out there.
ANUNCIATE AQUI
DISPONIBLE
INFORMES LLAMA SNOWBALL - 646-115-7754
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2lazy2
Newbie
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2751
Registered: 5-10-2011
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Quote: Originally posted by greengoes  | There is a scam like that going on in Ensenada near the Starbucks. Two young girls come up and offer to help clean the goop off your back.
So far I have lost two wallets, a money belt, and two fanny packs.
Be careful out there. |
Two wallets and two money belts for just a clean up, no massage? What a ripoff...
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bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2498
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
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Mood: Happy
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twogringos
Nomad
Posts: 184
Registered: 1-7-2007
Location: Bahia Asuncion/Color-Country
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Mood: I feel more like I do now than I ever have before
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Security code
Why do banks print the security code on bank cards? That makes it easy for the robber to make quick online purchases. I have removed the security
code from all the cards I carry, since the only time I need the code I'm at home were I can have the code recorded.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1108
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
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Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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| Quote: Originally posted by twogringos | | Why do banks print the security code on bank cards? That makes it easy for the robber to make quick online purchases. I have removed the security
code from all the cards I carry, since the only time I need the code I'm at home were I can have the code recorded. |
That is a darn fine idea, I never thought of it myself. Removal commencing!
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