Comments on: Watch Out for these Scams and Rip-offs http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/ for Tourists and Tango Dancers - www.BAtips.com Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:19:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Leticia http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-18697 Leticia Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:08:26 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-18697 Dear fellow travelers, ex-pats.. If you have been scammed in Buenos Aires and would like to share your experience in a documentary, contatc leticia.meruvia@zigzag.uk.com We’re currently in production on a series about scams that occur in cities around the globe for European television. 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. Many thanks! Dear fellow travelers, ex-pats..

If you have been scammed in Buenos Aires and would like to share your experience in a documentary, contatc leticia.meruvia@zigzag.uk.com

We’re currently in production on a series about scams that occur in cities around the globe for European television.

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.

Many thanks!

]]> By: david http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-9992 david Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:07:28 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-9992 Hi Thank you for the tips but i got scammed with the 100 pesos scam. We wanted to visit the river plate stadium as we caught a taxi from the boca juniors stadium and when we arrived at the river plate stadium the taxi driver took are money and then said it was fake when we got the money from an english bank so we thought the money from the english bank was fake but after seeing this we got scammed Hi Thank you for the tips but i got scammed with the 100 pesos scam. We wanted to visit the river plate stadium as we caught a taxi from the boca juniors stadium and when we arrived at the river plate stadium the taxi driver took are money and then said it was fake when we got the money from an english bank so we thought the money from the english bank was fake but after seeing this we got scammed

]]> By: Tobias http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-8291 Tobias Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:34:33 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-8291 Hi Alan, Well looks like we were caught by the same scam, well almost. I was approached in buenos aires by a guy cleaning to be from Venezuela. He initially asked me for directions and we got chatting after. After about an hour we decided to grab a bite to eat and shared s bottle of wine. I started to feel much more unsteady on my feet that I should after 2 glasses of wine and started to feel z bit suspicious. He them also pulled he lime that the banks are of stricken foe the next 6 days and that I should get money put. He even agent yo the extent of going inti 5 banks, but never withdrew n w money himself. The kicker was when that we got a number of soft drinks but he only bought 1 to share and subtly didn't drink from it. The finalevwas that as we stopped 4 a coffe and he went to the bathroom I found an empty alprazolam packet on the floor. I left it on the table. I confronted him on it and he was very coy saying it was for his nerves. I told him what I though was going on, took a couple of pictures of himmand went to the police. Luckily as I woke in the police statsion completely disoriented and stabling around like a drunk man. That said I learnt my lesson by falling for then"leyden go have s drink scam in Istanbul. So I had a little heads upp. I thinkbtjis advice is very important for single travelers and sespecially guys!!! Good luck and stay sage Hi Alan,
Well looks like we were caught by the same scam, well almost. I was approached in buenos aires by a guy cleaning to be from Venezuela. He initially asked me for directions and we got chatting after. After about an hour we decided to grab a bite to eat and shared s bottle of wine. I started to feel much more unsteady on my feet that I should after 2 glasses of wine and started to feel z bit suspicious. He them also pulled he lime that the banks are of stricken foe the next 6 days and that I should get money put. He even agent yo the extent of going inti 5 banks, but never withdrew n w money himself. The kicker was when that we got a number of soft drinks but he only bought 1 to share and subtly didn’t drink from it.
The finalevwas that as we stopped 4 a coffe and he went to the bathroom I found an empty alprazolam packet on the floor. I left it on the table. I confronted him on it and he was very coy saying it was for his nerves. I told him what I though was going on, took a couple of pictures of himmand went to the police. Luckily as I woke in the police statsion completely disoriented and stabling around like a drunk man.
That said I learnt my lesson by falling for then”leyden go have s drink scam in Istanbul. So I had a little heads upp.
I thinkbtjis advice is very important for single travelers and sespecially guys!!!
Good luck and stay sage

]]> By: Allan http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-8287 Allan Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:43:34 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-8287 Just got completey robbed in buenos aires, beware! I will try to keep it short. I am a 24 year old male from the UK. While walking to from the city centre to san telmo around 1pm a mid-thirties man approached me asking for directions to the markets. I said I am not sure but offer him my map. He seems really nice and said he is a tourist from madrid, he had a backpack etc and looked like a tourist. He didnt speak much english and I dont speak much spanish but we talked and ended up walking to the markets. I never suspected a thing. Then he told me the banks were shuting for a couple days for holiday and I should withdraw money. First clue. As I needed money anyway I withdrew around 1200 pesos as I was going to buy presents etc. I was thirsty and he suggested we have a beer as I had said I wanted to watch the end of a football game. After 2 beers and some food we were getting on well. He had many stories and I was happy to sit with him. This was in a very busy but small plaza. One of the last things I remember was my new beer tasting strange (we were sharing a litre with 2 glasses) and asking him if his was also. He said no it must be too warm. Then we left to look at the markets, as I stood up I felt a bit tipsy. I then woke up some hours later in a park with many people around, I was diroirentated and confused. I had no camera, money, or ipod. I asked 3 local people and their english was good, they describe the man I was with and said they thought he was my friend and I was very drunk. they saw him using my camera and sitting with me before heading off. The guy deserved an oscar. He had drugged me and robbed me. So I have been completey duped and feel angry at myself for trusting someone like I did. Wish I had looked for advice like this before going. It can happen to anyone. Dont trust ANYONE Just got completey robbed in buenos aires, beware! I will try to keep it short. I am a 24 year old male from the UK.

While walking to from the city centre to san telmo around 1pm a mid-thirties man approached me asking for directions to the markets. I said I am not sure but offer him my map. He seems really nice and said he is a tourist from madrid, he had a backpack etc and looked like a tourist. He didnt speak much english and I dont speak much spanish but we talked and ended up walking to the markets. I never suspected a thing. Then he told me the banks were shuting for a couple days for holiday and I should withdraw money. First clue. As I needed money anyway I withdrew around 1200 pesos as I was going to buy presents etc. I was thirsty and he suggested we have a beer as I had said I wanted to watch the end of a football game. After 2 beers and some food we were getting on well. He had many stories and I was happy to sit with him. This was in a very busy but small plaza.

One of the last things I remember was my new beer tasting strange (we were sharing a litre with 2 glasses) and asking him if his was also. He said no it must be too warm. Then we left to look at the markets, as I stood up I felt a bit tipsy. I then woke up some hours later in a park with many people around, I was diroirentated and confused. I had no camera, money, or ipod. I asked 3 local people and their english was good, they describe the man I was with and said they thought he was my friend and I was very drunk. they saw him using my camera and sitting with me before heading off. The guy deserved an oscar. He had drugged me and robbed me.
So I have been completey duped and feel angry at myself for trusting someone like I did. Wish I had looked for advice like this before going. It can happen to anyone. Dont trust ANYONE

]]> By: Yous http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-7730 Yous Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:26:02 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-7730 forgot to mention where, while sitting on a bench near Monumental Tower San Martin! forgot to mention where, while sitting on a bench near Monumental Tower San Martin!

]]> By: Yous http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-7729 Yous Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:21:01 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-7729 Got the Pigeon Poop Scam pulled on me yesterday 24th of July 2010, they took two of my cards from my wallet and managed to return my wallet with the cash inside without me noticing, I didn't realise until 2 hours later that i was missing these cards when i wanted to withdraw some cash. The couple that pulled the scam were in their 40's with very friendly faces, they happened to be walking towards me when it happened so i had no reason to suspect anything, there has to be a ring with a 3rd person involved who does the squirting, when they try to help you, just say no thanks.. 2 hours had elapsed before i noticed and during this time they managed to spend a total of £3000, most appear to be in the local high fashion designer shops in Santa Fe. I went to the police station on Suipacha 1156 to report the incident, they took it seriously and asked for a full list of the transactions made and retailer names and addresses. Interestingly they told me they'd never heard of this scam! :( only wish i'd come across this web site before arriving here, other than that dont let my experience put you off, Buenos Aires is a fantastic city to visit and on the whole i found most people to be very friendly and warm. Just have your wits about you and don't be as naive as i was, I have a trusting personality which lets me down sometimes... Be safe Got the Pigeon Poop Scam pulled on me yesterday 24th of July 2010, they took two of my cards from my wallet and managed to return my wallet with the cash inside without me noticing, I didn’t realise until 2 hours later that i was missing these cards when i wanted to withdraw some cash. The couple that pulled the scam were in their 40’s with very friendly faces, they happened to be walking towards me when it happened so i had no reason to suspect anything, there has to be a ring with a 3rd person involved who does the squirting, when they try to help you, just say no thanks..

2 hours had elapsed before i noticed and during this time they managed to spend a total of £3000, most appear to be in the local high fashion designer shops in Santa Fe.

I went to the police station on Suipacha 1156 to report the incident, they took it seriously and asked for a full list of the transactions made and retailer names and addresses.
Interestingly they told me they’d never heard of this scam! :( only wish i’d come across this web site before arriving here, other than that dont let my experience put you off, Buenos Aires is a fantastic city to visit and on the whole i found most people to be very friendly and warm.

Just have your wits about you and don’t be as naive as i was, I have a trusting personality which lets me down sometimes… Be safe

]]> By: dhuksha http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-7699 dhuksha Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:05:35 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-7699 hi, another bird poop scamee,... buy the 24 h tourist bus stop,.. they offered to help tidy it asking us to remove our bags but we refused and they vanished! bird poop? more like BS... hi, another bird poop scamee,… buy the 24 h tourist bus stop,.. they offered to help tidy it asking us to remove our bags but we refused and they vanished! bird poop? more like BS…

]]> By: Debi http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-2764 Debi Sun, 17 May 2009 02:11:13 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-2764 We got the bird poop scam pulled on us today. We didn't know what was happening but the whole thing stunk, in more ways than one. All we lost was a subte ticket out of my back pocket. They spent more on all the water and tissue they were giving us. We got the bird poop scam pulled on us today. We didn’t know what was happening but the whole thing stunk, in more ways than one. All we lost was a subte ticket out of my back pocket. They spent more on all the water and tissue they were giving us.

]]> By: TheWanderer http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-1529 TheWanderer Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:44:45 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-1529 Not sure if this qualifies as a scam but people should be aware that the $ sign in front of prices means ARGENTINE PESOS, not US DOLLARS. So don't get confused and pay three and a half times as much. Not sure if this qualifies as a scam but people should be aware that the $ sign in front of prices means ARGENTINE PESOS, not US DOLLARS. So don’t get confused and pay three and a half times as much.

]]> By: CJ http://www.batips.com/need-to-know/scams/comment-page-1/#comment-1377 CJ Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:12:05 +0000 http://www.batips.com/?p=657#comment-1377 Thanks for the tips, tangobob. I've actually had very good experiences with the taxis in BA. One time the driver forgot to turn on the meter. We both realized it once we reached my destination. I asked him how much I owed him and he sheepishly said "3 pesos?" I take that ride all the time and I know it costs 10 pesos so that is what I gave him. He was the exact opposite of a scammer. He was an honest guy willing to eat the cost of the fare for his own mistake. Thanks for the tips, tangobob.

I’ve actually had very good experiences with the taxis in BA. One time the driver forgot to turn on the meter. We both realized it once we reached my destination. I asked him how much I owed him and he sheepishly said “3 pesos?” I take that ride all the time and I know it costs 10 pesos so that is what I gave him.

He was the exact opposite of a scammer. He was an honest guy willing to eat the cost of the fare for his own mistake.

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