Scammed in Mexico

[Foot loose]

On 9th June, I met a guy who went by the name Ross Bullough who was
also staying in Monkey Hostel, Camppache. Ross, if thats his real
name, was a player in a night that set me back over US$400 (A lot for
a backpacker!).

After being intimidated into paying an outrageous bill at El Diamante
Bar just outside of Campache town, Ross slipped from the hostel in the
morning with another wad of US dollars of mine in his pocket. The
waiter in the Bar was Mateo Alfonso according to his ID.

Now I can´t work out this Ross guy, but he´s potentialy scamming his
way across Mexico. The story he told was that he was a Canadian
Paratrooper, in Cancun for R&R, and he was making his way to Alcapulco
to meet up with an old friend, perhaps it´s all fiction. In appearance
he´s got the build and manner of a military man, approx 33 years old
with dark hair.

Sound familiar?

[clint]

Yes, I was in Campache(dressed as a woman) to avoid theives. A man, by the
name of "Ross" bought me a drink. I refused to accompany him to his hotel
room, and he left(quite rudely!)
"Foot loose" <feet2loose..........m> wrote in message
news:d1765aed.0406111719.3e3a7caa@.................c om...
> On 9th June, I met a guy who went by the name Ross Bullough who was
> also staying in Monkey Hostel, Camppache. Ross, if thats his real
> name, was a player in a night that set me back over US$400 (A lot for
> a backpacker!).
>
> After being intimidated into paying an outrageous bill at El Diamante
> Bar just outside of Campache town, Ross slipped from the hostel in the
> morning with another wad of US dollars of mine in his pocket. The
> waiter in the Bar was Mateo Alfonso according to his ID.
>
> Now I can´t work out this Ross guy, but he´s potentialy scamming his
> way across Mexico. The story he told was that he was a Canadian
> Paratrooper, in Cancun for R&R, and he was making his way to Alcapulco
> to meet up with an old friend, perhaps it´s all fiction. In appearance
> he´s got the build and manner of a military man, approx 33 years old
> with dark hair.
>
> Sound familiar?

[Joe Clancy]

"clint" <bocarsm@...........m> wrote in message news:<lyPyc.146$lr2.30@bignews2...............>...
> I say dress as an eldrly woman, you avoid all this "intrigue!"
> "Brian K" <brianxt1951@..............> wrote in message
> news:3EMyc.7322$Y3.628@newsread2.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
> > On 06/11/2004 9:19 PM Foot loose consulted a Magic 8 Ball and declared:
> >
> > >On 9th June, I met a guy who went by the name Ross Bullough who was
> > >also staying in Monkey Hostel, Camppache. Ross, if thats his real
> > >name, was a player in a night that set me back over US$400 (A lot for
> > >a backpacker!).
> > >
> > >After being intimidated into paying an outrageous bill at El Diamante
> > >Bar just outside of Campache town, Ross slipped from the hostel in the
> > >morning with another wad of US dollars of mine in his pocket. The
> > >waiter in the Bar was Mateo Alfonso according to his ID.
> > >
> > >Now I can´t work out this Ross guy, but he´s potentialy scamming his
> > >way across Mexico. The story he told was that he was a Canadian
> > >Paratrooper, in Cancun for R&R, and he was making his way to Alcapulco
> > >to meet up with an old friend, perhaps it´s all fiction. In appearance
> > >he´s got the build and manner of a military man, approx 33 years old
> > >with dark hair.
> > >
> > >Sound familiar?
> > >
> > >
> > Doesn't sound familiar at all. How did he intimidate you to pay this big
> > bar tab? What? Are you a sucker for bar drinking games? How did he
> > know you had another wad of US dollars unless you flashed it? There's
> > something missing from this story. Did he promise you drugs and run off
> > you your buzz money?
> >
> > When I travel anywhere, I don't let anyone know how much money I have in
> > cash. It just makes sense. If they don't know how much you got, scam
> > artists can't see you as a mark.
> >

These types of scams are not uncommon in Mexico, there's a guy in D.F
who's been running these scams for a couple of years. This guy is male
black(American), 35-40 y/o, 5'10". He claims to be a football player,
a reverend, his story is that his wife and kids are stranded, his
baggage was LOST with his passport and money and speaks no Spanish. He
targets lone tourists and asks for $200-$400-00 usd. with the promise
of payback. He tryed this scam with me but I smelled a rat right from
the beginning. Beware, this creep works 5 de Mayo and the Zocolo

[Foot loose]

Yes, the story sounds strange. To throw more flesh on the tale. After
drinks in the hostal with the other guests, myself and Ross, headed
out to find a local bar, which all turned out to be closing. Ross, who
speaks spanish (I dont) managed to get recommended this Bar.

After heading up there, Ross barrowered US$60 on dubious grounds (my
stupidity). Up to now, Ross who could be a confidence trickster, had
been talking about his Army work, his roots back in Troronto etc had
confinced me of his character. Everything he said could be a load of
Bull (including his name).

Inside the bar, which was a semi-strip bar. We were presented with a
US$400 bill, no private dances or any other cohorts were had, only
beer. Ross then appeared to get unusally jittery, for a Paratropper,
and was all keen to pay up and get out of there, suggesting the police
might be demanded money if they got involved. The manager was also off
the premises, according to Ross,who was doing all the spanish talk
with the staff. I was adamant on not paying and held out for over half
an hour. During this time Ross kept saying lets bail out, without even
trying to negotiate. Eventually I paid up (VISA), not thinking to get
Ross t pay his half there and then.

Anyway back in the Hostel, I asked for the cash, which then he says he
will cover in the morning from his safety depost box. In the morning I
saw Ross briefly, before he said he would make a quick call to bar
before we went up and spoke to the manager. Ross slipped away in this
pretence.

In thinking about it afterwards, some things did not add up. Ross
through the conversation had got the information that I was carrying
both Visa and US$200. Other behaviour only looked strange in the
outcome. He had said the Bar owner was a Texan, and an x-army man
(information which I did not questio stupidly), a seargant even the
same as Ross, who would see reason when we spoke with him in the
morning. My guess is that his name was fake, which makes it all the
more suspicious. I will be contacting the Canadian Paratroppers to see
if suck a person exists.

So, he took off with the $60 definetly, plus US$200 for his share of
the bill even if he was not involved in the other scam. the rest, who
knows. It may look like I am a real twit, but when you are backpacking
around Mexico, it is the Mexicans you watch out for, not your fellow
travellers, up to now anyhow.

[Foot loose]

JohnM <john@scroll..............> wrote in message news:<dbFjDGAAL2zAFwge@scroll..............>...
> In article <d1765aed.0406141812.73355d39@.................com >, Foot loose
> <feet2loose..........m> writes
> >Yes, the story sounds strange.
>
> Indeed it does. I am very surprised you fell for it - this guy 'Ross'
> must have the gift of the gab. Breathe in and put it down to experience
> - by sharing your story here you must have felt a but better anyway :-)
>
> When I travel I do trust people, but I take care where money is
> concerned. Oh, and strip joints are notorious rip-offs in Mexico, in the
> UK or anywhere in the world.

Well I contacted my bank hoping something could be done, but does not
seem likely, here is the response below.

Also JohnM, I enjoyed your book. I had read it planning initially to
go to Brazil. But in the end I decided on Mexico, the reason... cause
I was concerned about getting robbed or scammed in Brazil :-)

Banks Reponse:
Thank you for your recent query regarding a transaction that you wish
to
dispute on your account. Visa International rules state that if you
signed
for an amout to be deducted from your Credit Card account then
unfortunately we are not in a position to dispute the case on your
behalf.
If however you have some sort of proff that the amount charged to you
should have been different please forward a copy of same along with
full
details of your case.