So, in Oct. I was going to meet my friend at Cafe Tortoni…so I took the Subte D to Catedtral. This time I put my wallet in my pantleg pocket which I felt would be safe. I looked around before getting on the Subte and even watch my leg while on the Subte…but in the blink of an eye…it was stolen.

I was feeling bad about my experience in Argentina while I awaited my friend. I told her what happened so we went inside to have a coffee. While we were talking, my friend got a call to her cell phone and the caller ask if he was speaking..to Sra……….and she said yes. He said he had just found a billford which had her card in it. So, yes, I got my billfold back minus the 200 pesos. I return to him and gave him a reward…which he did not want to take…but finally, he understood why it was so important for me to say Thanks to him with the money.

Several days later, I took a taxi ,,,paid my fare and got out….later, I discovered that I didnt have my billfold..and I thought I had left it at a cafe. Later when I got back to my apartamento, the security guard handed me my billfold…the taxi driver had found it and returned to me since I had a card with address of my apartamento.

So, yes, I had some bad experiences…but the overwelming goodness that came to me…tells me that there are some very wonderful people in Buenos Aires.

And yes,,,and now, I call myself….Senor Suerte….Mr. Lucky

PS….Think I should put my future b illfolds on a locked chain!!!!

I work for Zig Zag Productions, a London based television company. We’re currently in production on a series of documentaries for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.

The aim of this series is to look at the scams that occur in cities around the globe that are aimed at tourists. We want to provide an informative travel show that emphasizes each city as a travel destination but at the same time aims to make tourists aware of popular scams like the ones mentioned here.

If you have been a victim and would like to share your experience, contact me, also informing where you are based: leticia.meruvia@zigzag.uk.com

Many thanks!

Leticia

The BA municipal police are useless and are all on the take anyway.

This is why I stand for the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution. It is “necessary to the security of a free State” else you have victims blaming themselves instead of protecting themselves.

BA is one of many examples of willful defenselessness and its result. It’s too bad. Such a beautiful place given over to emboldened criminals.

I have heard many stories from Argentines about the unsafety and Not to wear a watch etc.
If you watch argentine news you will notice that the local robberies get all the attention in the media, the tiniest car crash will get hours of tv comments about unsafety, so people feel unsafe because of all the media spreading fear.
In the past 6 years we had (only) 3 robberies in a team of 6 volunteers, working in SLUMS!
In comparison, I was 2 times robbed and 8 times attacked living some years in Berlin, got in the middle of a gunfight on vacation in Jamaica and was chased with a gun in sumervacation in Florida USA.

I live in BA for some years now, first time here was on 2005, things have drastically changed over the last few years, the prices on everything has rised up ridiculously, I used to take cabs for going almost everywhere, now it’s really expensive to grab a cab in BA, I’ve been coming and going between US and Argentina, so I can see the differences and the changes in BA.
I’m an ex-marine myself so I kinda have notion of taking caution around the streets,
to look all angles while I walk everywhere, here’s my advice for tourists who come to BA,
always have a look in the streets both sides, in front of you and behind you discretely.
There is a fact for ‘pungas’ and thieves down here, check out their appearances, the dirtier,
dark skinned, the shitty clothes they wear, these are key points to keep in mind for people that are highly pontential thieves. If you’re male always keep your wallet hide in front of you, under your boxer if you can. If you’re a woman take your purse really close to you all the time.

Be safe while you’re here and good luck to everyone

- Never have expensive things in sight in crowded downtown areas. These include: SLR Cameras and the likes, smartphones,etc.
- Please, don’t dress like Indiana Jones when you come here. That way you are spotted as a tourist from miles away, and targetted more frequently by opportunists, scammers and petty thieves. Also, many street resellers will try to lure you to hidden shops that are not advisable.
- Carry some local currency around, but not a lot. In Argentina, you can’t still use credit cards in lots of places, and if you carry US Dollars, you’ll be getting around 10% worse exchange rates than you should, most of the time. Sometimes even less!
- Electronics are expensive here. And it’s hard to get new stuff. Don’t even bother shopping for these unless strictly needed
- Don’t trust taxis without a roof sign. Premium Taxi and Radio Taxi are among the ones you can trust, but there are many fake ones out there that can mean an awful surprise.
- Avoid backpacks in crowded areas, or carry them in front of you.
- Don’t store wallets or cell phones in your pants’ back pockets. Only use the front ones.
- Don’t leave valuables at a restaurant’s table while, ie, you go to the rest room, unless someone else stays and keeps an eye on your belongings.

Things like those should help make your stay much more pleasant.