Medellin Reports

[Bbrocs]

Here's a handy how to add data to your smart phone. Both claro and tigo use the same process. After putting money on your cell phone. Dial *611#.

A box will open. Press 1 for Paq Datos. And hit send.

Another box will open. I press 1 for Paq datos cobro unica vez and hit send.

Next menu asks do you have a smart phone, blackberry. I press 1 for smart phone and hit send.

Next menu shows a 1 day pack, but I want other options so I press 2 for Mas Paquetes. And hit send.

Next menu is 1 DIA, 2 semana, 3 for 2 week 4 is month. You pick the one that you need, and hit send.

I pressed 2 for semana for the week and it shows that its 15,000 pesos. I press 1 hit send.

Next menu asks to confirm it. You do and you are all set. For the week as long as you have 15,000 on phone.

If there is another plan in operation that will finish and then this will start.

[Bbrocs]

After 2-3 weeks you need to have cell phone registered using cedula. Some people say can register with USA Passport using 611 Customer service with claro. I'm still trying to figure it out.

I went in to there office in one of the main malls in town. Took 5 minutes. USA passport was fine.

[Bbrocs]

It's that I bought my SIM card (Movistar) several years ago, when they did not force expiration after few months without using and topping up. Any SIM card bought today expires as yours. I am keeping my old SIM card as gold.

Also, others talk about registering the "cell phone" with an ID. I am not in Colombia now and I cannot check personally how it works, but I would reasonably say that it's the SIM CARD that you need to register, not certainly the phone. It's possible in theory to register the IMEI of a phone associating it to a legitimate ID, to prevent theft or illegal usage, but as far as I know nobody does that in the world. Even the "black list" of stolen phones, supposedly managed and shared by operators, is not effective to prevent frauds and thefts. If they steal your phone, you will use the manufacturer feature to lock it from remote.

If your phone sim is claro you need to register your unlocked cell phone if you didn't buy it from them. I started getting text messages that I was going to be blocked in 5 days if I didn't come in and register the phone. But I also had issues when I first got the sim card I did it with a drivers license. They used my street address as my first name. I became Jefferson in the system. Had to bring in a copy of that drivers license to get it changed. I am so set now. Tigo doesn't make you do this. Neither does the sim card you can buy at exito movil exito sim. Most carriers want to see ID to buy a sim card. Claro wants to see either bill of sale for US phone or they might block your IMEI.

[YippieKayay]

Curious. How did you know it was a boyfriend?

It was pretty obvious at the start. She had his photos on her phone (lots of them), on facebook etc. She would say "good friend. " She wouldn't say "mi amigo. " It was a line he taught her to use with gringos. I know some of her family and they told me they knew he was always using her. I believe the term is 'gastar su ahorro' or 'spend her savings. ' I found it amusing they believe she had like a savings account with money in it. The girl never worked a day in her life. The thing about Colombians is they will accept a fantastical lie over looking at the truth. So their fake-boobed niece was actually working a respectable job despite always being on vacation somewhere, while the evil boyfriend never worked and spent her money. I think that was the fantasy her aunt had.

Anyway this was a long time ago. I didn't stay in touch.

I knew she was telling the truth about her money being gone because she couldn't even afford a few bucks for phone data. I asked if she had a BF taking her money, she said "no, never". I think they are just live-for-the-day people that tend to waste money on crap then get desperate. It's baffling.

I'm not calling her a liar although she probably was. They probably managed their money like idiots and the novio likely had a drug problem.

EDIT: BTW, if you're wondering if theprepago you're fucking regularly has a boyfriend the answer is 'yes she does. she absolutely does.' If she has a kid then its the kids father. If she was married then its her ex husband who pops in and out of her life. If not then its some guy who is fucking her and some other girls. They always have a boyfriend. Every last one of them. Sometimes the boyfriend knows and sometimes he doesn't. Thats the only difference.

[JjBee62]

She'll continue doing it the wrong way and make less. You guys always assume these prepagos have business savvy. Most of them have a novio who is busy spending their money. I remember this one prepago kept telling me she was a 'money making machine' like she was proud of it. She couldn't even afford underwear and she was a good looking girl too. The boyfriend spent almost every dime she earned.

I know of one cam girl, who was making good money, until her boyfriend talked her into becoming a prepago. Last I heard she was making less and still with the BF.

I know one camgirl who is supporting 2 family members, living in a great place, with about $50 k USD in the bank, no debt and a growing business. Her boyfriend has a solid, well paid job and doesn't get 1 peso.

Most have no concept of money and no business skills. Some have a lot of business savvy.

[Chicafan]

She'll continue doing it the wrong way and make less. You guys always assume these prepagos have business savvy. Most of them have a novio who is busy spending their money. I remember this one prepago kept telling me she was a 'money making machine' like she was proud of it. She couldn't even afford underwear and she was a good looking girl too. The boyfriend spent almost every dime she earned.

Curious. How did you know it was a boyfriend? I knew a girl who would make decent money from me during a couple of my trips then act like she was broke within a couple of weeks. I knew she would see other guys as well so figured she was making plenty of money overall. I just could never understand how she would have spent all her money without paying for the things that were important- apartment, child, etc. I knew she was telling the truth about her money being gone because she couldn't even afford a few bucks for phone data. I asked if she had a BF taking her money, she said "no, never". I think they are just live-for-the-day people that tend to waste money on crap then get desperate. It's baffling.

[YippieKayay]

An estrato 2 or 3 girl is going to be stuck as a hairdresser or waitress. No real hope of anything better, unless she starts selling herself. Then she can afford an estrato 6 lifestyle. Given the choice of making the same money sitting in front of a computer or laying under an old, fat gringo, what will most chicas choose?

Of course, until they can afford a laptop and high speed internet, they don't have the webcam option.

She'll continue doing it the wrong way and make less. You guys always assume these prepagos have business savvy. Most of them have a novio who is busy spending their money. I remember this one prepago kept telling me she was a 'money making machine' like she was proud of it. She couldn't even afford underwear and she was a good looking girl too. The boyfriend spent almost every dime she earned.

[Chicafan]

I think you'll find it's come a long, long way since then. The top models in the US are making $1 million (that's dollars) per year. Top models in Colombia are pulling half that, but with cost of living difference, it's about the same money. The big studios have annual payrolls of $10 - $20 million, just for support personnel, that doesn't include the models. They are using professional makeup artists, hairdressers, decorators and theatrical directors. Instead of grubby little backrooms they're set up in Poblado and Laureles.

Sounds incredible, almost ridiculous. But I guess it could be. It must be a little known secret or why wouldn't most of the best looking girls in MDE be doing it? $500 k x two years and she's done. House paid, money banked. Myself, I have never seen a webcam site.

[Wolf662]

Impressive, but not especially effective to counter those who cannot opt for the low-carb diet but have a 15 cm knife or gun in the back pocket.

Oh yeah if there's a weapon involved just hand over the money. I do t more for the girl's, on the Sugar Baby sites they see your pic too.

[JjBee62]

It's a good hustle that's been around in various forms since the first cheap webcams and internet access. In the 90's you would find places around Latin America with a Internet access PCs in booths (sometimes with curtains for heavy porn watchers) and phone booths in the front room and a back room with girls doing cam gigs. The marketing changes but it's the same hustle. It works from many angles. Some girls prefer it because they know the worse they can catch is itchy pussy from the chair they sit in. LOL!

I think you'll find it's come a long, long way since then. The top models in the US are making $1 million (that's dollars) per year. Top models in Colombia are pulling half that, but with cost of living difference, it's about the same money. The big studios have annual payrolls of $10 - $20 million, just for support personnel, that doesn't include the models. They are using professional makeup artists, hairdressers, decorators and theatrical directors. Instead of grubby little backrooms they're set up in Poblado and Laureles.

There are still the grubby little backroom, with a mattress on the floor and a cheap laptop, run by wannabe pimps, but they are struggling to make $50/ day.

I wouldn't call it a hustle. There's a market. Whenever there's a market, someone is going to take advantage of it. Medellin is a good spot to fill that market. Cost of living is low, available standard of living is high, there is an abundant supply of young, beautiful women and the sex tourism helps drive the women to the studios.

An estrato 2 or 3 girl is going to be stuck as a hairdresser or waitress. No real hope of anything better, unless she starts selling herself. Then she can afford an estrato 6 lifestyle. Given the choice of making the same money sitting in front of a computer or laying under an old, fat gringo, what will most chicas choose?

Of course, until they can afford a laptop and high speed internet, they don't have the webcam option.

[Black Page]

Is that because of the phone company's SIM you use (Tigo, Movistar, Claro)?
I have a Tigo SIM and as far as I know my leftover data expires after a couple months.

It's that I bought my SIM card (Movistar) several years ago, when they did not force expiration after few months without using and topping up. Any SIM card bought today expires as yours. I am keeping my old SIM card as gold.

Also, others talk about registering the "cell phone" with an ID. I am not in Colombia now and I cannot check personally how it works, but I would reasonably say that it's the SIM CARD that you need to register, not certainly the phone. It's possible in theory to register the IMEI of a phone associating it to a legitimate ID, to prevent theft or illegal usage, but as far as I know nobody does that in the world. Even the "black list" of stolen phones, supposedly managed and shared by operators, is not effective to prevent frauds and thefts. If they steal your phone, you will use the manufacturer feature to lock it from remote.

[Black Page]

dded 5 every week after till I got to 100. Not huge but bigger them most the local dudes, esp the poor ones who want to rob you & don't have a proper diet.

Impressive, but not especially effective to counter those who cannot opt for the low-carb diet but have a 15 cm knife or gun in the back pocket.

[Victor W]

Hi guys,

Just finished a fun tour of SE Asia (see my trip reports) and off to Medellin next.

I was wondering what part of town I should book in? I won't be bringing girls back. I'm going to be hosteling Airbnb but I need just a few good recommendations for parts of town.

[Mufasa1]

Heading to Medellin next week. Unfortunately, I will not be staying at the mansion but want to check out the casa scene. If you guys have any casas you want to recommend that I should hit up, let me know and I will write a report on it. I speak fluid spanish so getting information about specific casas should not be a problem for me. I will mostly be using the forum and World Travel map as primary resources and probably what the cab drivers recommend as places to check out first.

[Lefeu]

Could someone post some clarity on this? If I buy a prepaid card I now have to register with a cedula? Does this mean a passport or any form of ID (not Colombian)?

I bought a SIM card from Tigo about a week ago, and they asked for ID. I handed them a copy of my passport (the page with the relevant info) and they accepted it.