Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Captain Solo]

Thieves cloned my AMEX and bought 4 orders from Pizza Huts worth over $400. Charges were quickly reversed. AMEX's customer service agents in Manilla were cute and good.

I used the Schwab card only at the Cashola ATMs in front of Carreta 3 times no problem. The last time it was cloned. Thieves in Dominican Republic made 4 draws, converting to odd dollar figures around $700. Schwab fraud detectives called then texted me the same day and declined the charges. Don't know if they ever get the cash back. I called Schwab's customer service in Phoenix today. They reversed the 4 draws and send me a new card. So Schwab is not too bad.

I doth want to deal with these credit card frauds too often. Will pay in pesos in Tijuana from now on.

[Skwscrod]

I think I'll use this ATM on the street, in one of the most crime infested and dangerous parts of the city. What could go wrong?

Yea, totally my own dumbassery. I usually bring cash, a single credit card and my passport card. Dunno what I was thinking other than maybe in Covid-world I might need cash quickly. Sadly I didn't even end up using what I withdrew.

[Phordphan]

I think I'll use this ATM on the street, in one of the most crime infested and dangerous parts of the city. What could go wrong?

[Captain Solo]

Skwscrod.

I used debit and credit cards for most payment in US and overseas. I rarely pay with cash.

Last year my wingman and I used the Multiva ATMs next to Valentina. Next week we both got robbed.

Couple weeks ago I paid for meals at Azul's with AMEX. The next week thieves charged it a couple hundred dollars in odd numbers, like they were buying something, not drawing cash. Amex caught it quickly and called me. They also pointed out a $9. 95 fraud charge before the large numbers. Amex customer service is probably the best.

I use the Schwab debit card strictly out of the country to avoid international fees, In 2019 I used it all over Asia. Did not have any problems. Starting in July after Tijuana bars reopened, I used it couple times at the Cahsola ATMs next to Caretta. Next week thieves charged it for purchases in odd dollar numbers, not the multiple $20 withdrawals. Schwab fraud detectives called and texted me. I told them not authorized. They said I was not liable, call Customer Service to replace the card. The phone wait was longer than an hour, then the line got cut off. Chat line was on hold, then did not work. Schwab's customer service is shit.

Me too.

[Skwscrod]

Well, I still feel stupid, but a little less knowing there's more out there. For the first time I used an ATM outside Adelita's last month. Waiting to get reimbursed about $4 k that got withdrawn over a week in Fla. Considering I use physical debit card maybe once a month it kinda has to be from there, ugh.

[KC Questor]

How much $ do you save by paying for chicas ect in pesos vs dollars in Tijuana? Is it worth all the fraud risk problems and other hassles including rip off ATM fees ect? I just bring cash and pay in dollars. Am I blowing it?

If you are not doing street girls, then the money saved by paying in pesos is lower. Bar girls are used to dollars and their price will usually be the same in either currency. I've had girls pull out a calculator and tell me that their $80 session would be 1520 pesos (back when it was 19:1) -- not 1500, but 1520. Escort agencies are a little slow to change their conversion rates considering they have web sites to update, so you can do OK if the exchange rate has been volatile in the right direction. But it's usually minor.

Also, there is the risk of messing up the conversion and overpaying for things without knowing -- especially if you are not good with math. This is less of an issue now that the peso is over 20:1, so chances are you will round in your favor. But it's still possible to screw things up. I do exchange some dollars for pesos when I visit. Usually under $200 over 3-4 days. That's enough for the street girls, plus some for stores or taxis outside the zona. I also don't bother with ATMs. I bring cash and exchange it as needed.

[Captain Solo]

Along E San Ysidro Blvd there are half dozen money exchanges on the West side of the street, near the US Bank, notably https://borderxchangemoney.com/..

Their rates are very close, about 3% below official bank rate. If you exchange $500 you would lose about $15. Using Tijuana cambios You would lose twice as much or $30.

San Ysidro Blvd is desereted now due to CoVid, but I still don't want to get off the freeway just to save $15. Will freeze the debit card then unfreeze immediately before use.

The shifty exchange rates.

[Captain Solo]

I have a checking account with a major bank.

I never ever used the debit card from that bank. But a few weeks ago thieves drew cash a couple times, totaling over $700.

The bank's data base must have been hacked, because I never used that debit card. I had to close that account. Nothing is safe anymore when people are hungry.

[Captain Solo]

Amor.

Most street girls are doing too sexo sin ropa for 300,400,500 pesos. But puta calculators are stuck on 10:1 rate, so they will quote $30,40,50. Using pesos will cut puta expenses by half.

Xe rate is now 21.9:1. Cambios in la zona do 20.3:1 so they take 16 pesos fee for every $. Exchange $200 and I lose 320 pesos or $15 compared to Atms rate.

Need to find secured Atms in Tijuana.

[Captain Solo]

In la zona 3 PM. Lots of street girls.

Elizabeth is a hot spinner, worked in HK, pretty smiling face, light skin, flat ab. She wants 700 pesos for todos, good deal compared to her 2,000 peso deal in HK 3 months ago.

[ScatManDoo]

I just bring cash and pay in dollars. Am I blowing it?

Let's just stop here and work backwards.

My answer to you is "probably".

Is it worth all the fraud risk problems and other hassles including rip off ATM fees ect? I just bring cash and pay in dollars.

You probably see several exchange cambios on every block inside (or near) La Zona.

Typically they will have their Compra rate posted for anyone to see. You will find most of them have only one or two customers in line, or even a free window with no waiting.

Offering to exchange about half of your dollars for pesos at places stating "no commissions" would seem to be free of fraud and hassles and rip-off ATM fees you are seeking to avoid.

How much $ do you save by paying for chicas ect in pesos vs dollars in Tijuana?

That depends.

Can often be a lot with street girls in particular.

But when you know roughly the current exchange rate.

And hold both currencies in your pockets.

Whether you are doing your shopping under stated dual pricing.

Or when negotiations with a chica result in clear rates under either currency of your choice.

You get to pick the winner deal, always, without struggle.

[AmorPorFavor]

How much $ do you save by paying for chicas ect in pesos vs dollars in Tijuana? Is it worth all the fraud risk problems and other hassles including rip off ATM fees ect? I just bring cash and pay in dollars. Am I blowing it?

[Captain Solo]

XE.COM quotes 21.9:1 today.

In San Ysidro:

https://borderxchangemoney.com/

Buys dollar for 21.31 pesos.

Sells dollar for 22.25 pesos.

So they make 0. 6 pesos for every dollar exchanged for pesos. If I exchange $200 they make $12, not bad considering the risks. ATMs fees and international transaction fees with the debit cards.

[ScatManDoo]

In 2019 I traveled all over Asia, used the Schwab card to withdraw money everywhere I went, never had a problem. It was impossible to carry lots of cash on long trips, especially where you cannot find banks to exchange money. ATMs are the most convenient means to withdraw local currencies.

This was the fourth time I used it at the ATM in front of La Caretta. Within 2 weeks, thieves hacked the card and withdrew over $600 in Dominican Republic.

Last Wednesday bank exchange rate was 22:1 but most cambios in Tijuana gave only 19:1. For $150 I should have gotten 3,300 pesos but got only 2. 865, lost 435 pesos or about 13% compared to banks. Banks' rate is a lot better. We need to find secured ATMs. Banks on Revo are closed. Will try Sarriano in the plaza on Revo.

For many years I've used the HSBC ATM located inside of Soriana grocery store on Revolution between 3rd and 4th street.

They have a freestanding ATM located advantageously in their store's pharmacy area.

There's almost always one or two pharmacists behind a low counter only about 20 feet away if you need or want assistance, or simply prefer a store employee nearby.

And from the ATM you have a good view of most of the front of the Sorianna store, to be on the lookout for those folks who you might be suspicious of starting trouble.

A couple of times, when using that ATM, I became cautious of someone standing and lingering nearby me. So I just cancelled my ATM transaction (while in process) and just stepped away. I did some additional grocery shopping, while monitoring the ATM & pharmacy area. I returned to the ATM when people cleared out of the pharmacy area.

[ClamSlammer]

For those of you that have cards that don't reimburse ATM fees, just beware some banks charge very high fees, ranging from $17-$85 mx. BBVA fees are high along with HSBC. CitiBanamex charges the lowest fees in general. Bancoppel fees are very low but are almost impossible to find, even inside a Bancoppel there will be no ATM's. And if you do find one, as in the one inside Soriana next to Ticuan, 95% of the time they won't dispense cash. Scotiabank, Santander and Banorte are somewhere in between. Also, be aware that the same ATM may charge different fees depending on which bank's debit card you use. I was once at a BBVA ATM with a wingman and I was charged $30 mx while it wanted $85 from my wingman. This was years ago before BBVA jacked up it's fees. Now it wants $85 from me too. Also, different branches of the same bank charge different fees. ATM's aren't reliable in Mexico. They are constantly out of service and at least 3 times I've been denied cash but had by checking account debited anyway.