Scam City - Buenos Aires (Travel & Escape Channel)

[Gorilla Monsoon]

http://www.travelandescape.ca/shows/scam-city/

"Buenos Aires is a fast moving city bringing in around 10 million tourists annually. But like the Tango with its themes of deception and trickery of love, Conor Woodman discovers that many visitors leave Buenos Aires with broken hearts, after being scammed by pickpockets, con-artists, and grafters. Conor sets out to discover that the most common scams involving tourists are pick pocketing, clip joints, vice girls, taxi scams and hotel scams. But prevalent throughout the whole of the city and running out of control is Buenos Aries’ problem with counterfeit money…"

 

[fifs2]

http://www.travelandescape.ca/shows/scam-city/

"Buenos Aires is a fast moving city bringing in around 10 million tourists annually. But like the Tango with its themes of deception and trickery of love, Conor Woodman discovers that many visitors leave Buenos Aires with broken hearts, after being scammed by pickpockets, con-artists, and grafters. Conor sets out to discover that the most common scams involving tourists are pick pocketing, clip joints, vice girls, taxi scams and hotel scams. But prevalent throughout the whole of the city and running out of control is Buenos Aries’ problem with counterfeit money…"

Have to laugh..'m back and loving Bsas like a virgin tourist the taxi scammers have really surprised me. Even though I speak good Spanish at least 3 drivers have attempted to take me on round the block tours. I'm feeling mellow so I let them do their thing and kindly ask them why they went that way ...just for badness to hear the "o tenes razon, menos mal me recordaste he olvidado, me confundi la calle con xxx". Sheer badness. God knows what they do to unsuspecting tourists who haven't a damn clue where they're going. Other than that the kindness of everyone else has overwhelmed me..a police car even stopped today to talk to me and the kids...

 

[earlyretirement]

Have to laugh..'m back and loving Bsas like a virgin tourist the taxi scammers have really surprised me. Even though I speak good Spanish at least 3 drivers have attempted to take me on round the block tours. I'm feeling mellow so I let them do their thing and kindly ask them why they went that way ...just for badness to hear the "o tenes razon, menos mal me recordaste he olvidado, me confundi la calle con xxx". Sheer badness. God knows what they do to unsuspecting tourists who haven't a damn clue where they're going. Other than that the kindness of everyone else has overwhelmed me..a police car even stopped today to talk to me and the kids...

You must have had some really bad luck. Buenos Aires has LOTS of faults but overall I'd say the vast number of taxis are truly honest and hardworking people. Also, some of the most intelligent taxi drivers I've ever come across in all my travels around the world.

I've literally taken thousands upon thousands of taxi rides over several years of living in Buenos Aires and I only had maybe 1 taxi driver try taking a longer route or something. But really most are really honest and even will round down if the meter is slightly over.

Lots of things to complain about in Buenos Aires but honestly taxi drivers aren't one of them.

 

[fifs2]

You must have had some really bad luck. Buenos Aires has LOTS of faults but overall I'd say the vast number of taxis are truly honest and hardworking people. Also, some of the most intelligent taxi drivers I've ever come across in all my travels around the world.

Agreed..it's bad luck mixed with a Palermo base and 2 VERY blonde kids that gives us a flashing neon sign over our heads saying "Tourists". As taxis here used to be old beat up cars held together by string and old carpet there is indeed little to complain about...the scamming was real though..and as surprising to me as to you.

 

[Heather G]

lol, I just tried to watch the counterfeit money video there and it said I couldn't watch it from my "current country or location"

 

[sleslie23]

I've had a few taxis try to take the scenic route. If it is really obvious, I tell them to stop and I get out and take another taxi. Sometimes they may not know the best route. I generally take a taxi from the same place to the same place, so I sometimes know the best route. I usually tell them what I prefer.

That said, occasionally, I get a taxi where the fare will be 20 pesos instead of the normal 15, for example. I usually mention this to the driver, which gets a variety or responses.

I agree about BsAs taxi drivers being the smartest. San Francisco has the weirdest I've ever seen. And Egypt has the most corrupt. Every taxi ride I had there was an ordeal.

 

[Iznogud]

No one is safe from the taxi drivers trying to go "the extra mile" for you.
Locals and tourists alike.

Tried to watch the linked episodes with no luck. Maybe it's too late for me, I'm already in the doomed location.

While I always check the bills for counterfeited ones, specially the $50 notes, the issue doesn't appear to me as serious as the site would like me to believe. That is the reason why I'm dissappointed at being unable to watch the report.

 

[scotttswan]

No one is safe from the taxi drivers trying to go "the extra mile" for you.
Locals and tourists alike.

Tried to watch the linked episodes with no luck. Maybe it's too late for me, I'm already in the doomed location.

While I always check the bills for counterfeited ones, specially the $50 notes, the issue doesn't appear to me as serious as the site would like me to believe. That is the reason why I'm dissappointed at being unable to watch the report.

I had friends over and they got counterfeited notes from a banco galicia cash machine!

 

[fifs2]

And Egypt has the most corrupt. Every taxi ride I had there was an ordeal.[/quote]



Ha ha God that brings back memories..every ride is a negotiation and a chance for a quick grope as you get out...

 

[vanessa]

I been in my home city taking a cab from the airport (Las Vegas) and if I don't tell the cab driver what streets to go down, they always try to take the Strip which is usually much slower and out of the way.

It is not just BsAs.