大咖福利影院

Your strategies seem to be good ones.聽 But the risk is still pretty small overall.聽 Something like a secuestro expr茅s is still possible where you are forced to accompany the thieves as they empty your accounts from ATMs.

Always staying alert, don't engage with strangers, situational awareness, no dar papaya, going out in groups with the family/friends,聽 all can help reduce risk but not eliminate it.

@stealtannest3t

Like @OsageArcher said, it sounds like you're basically prepared. If you wanted to reduce your risk even further, I'd HIGHLY recommend:

1. Avoid the street girls entirely
2. If you meet any woman from Tinder or other dating apps, vet them as best as you can before hooking up.
3. If, after meeting them at a cafe, vetting them, etc. and you DO bring her to your crib... bring ONLY her (no friends), and make sure the portero is aware (make her show ID, etc) and make sure she isn't allowed to leave without being accompanied by you.
4. Before you bring anyone over, secure your valuables. No laptop, gadgets, loose cash, etc. lying around.
5. If possible, she should come without her purse. But if she DOES bring her purse, make her leave it somewhere she cannot easily reach, like, at the door or something.
6. This goes without saying but... always use protection (condoms).

Maybe this sounds like a lot, but once you get the hang of it, setting your boundaries early will help you avoid the hardcore "opportunistic" criminals who are really just looking for an easy target (once they see you have your sh!t on lock and you're not one of those Dumb Medellin Crypto-Passport-Bros who're just BEGGING to be scoped & robbed, they'll lose interest, AKA "weed themselves out"). So, don't make it easy for them.

By the way, if you just want sex (as the Basic Human Need that it is) without having to think about all this stuff, and you don't care if the experience is "warm lover" or "cold fish", then it's better to just go to a brothel. Sure, there'll be no illusion of actual attraction or passion, no passionate mouth-kissing, and some workers are "cold" (or just tired)... but at least you won't have to worry about safety and theft. And if you're nice and charming enough, and you happen to pick a sweet, not-yet-jaded worker who genuinely enjoys sex (or is good at acting), you might STILL get a "warm" experience. It's worth a shot.

In any case, be safe, and good luck!

@ ChineduOpara - From your lips to God's ears! Spot on.

My very first visit and extended 4 month stay was to Bogota in November of 1990, those were different times for sure.

Fast forward 35 years and been living the past 10 YEARS right outside Medellin and over these past 35 years I too have been no saint but ALWAYS have kept the basics of "situational awareness" as you laid out as second nature, so far going good!

I could write a book about what I have personally experienced, what I have observed from others and the changes over the decades that now puts such a stain on what a decades ago would have been a much less effortless visit to Medellin than what it has evolved into.

[...]I could write a book about what I have personally experienced, what I have observed from others and the changes over the decades that now puts such a stain on what a decades ago would have been a much less effortless visit to Medellin than what it has evolved into. - @South American Voyager

Please write something, even if it's a blog post or Facebook post, so that I can read it and link to it from my own travel blog 馃槉 The info-sphere surrounding Colombia seems to be focused on mainly drug cartel history or activities, sex tourism, scoping/robbing, or mild/shallow/naive tourism. We need to add our "realistic, experienced, on-the-ground, day-to-day reality of Colombia" voices to the ether. The more voices, the better, IMHO...

@stealtannest3t

If you dont have street smarts you聽 are screwed

Just avoid Medelliin and Parts of Bogota and Cali and you.will.be聽 ok

Most of聽 these guys thst get scoped are real bobos, desperate guys looking to get laid, incels in their own country

Having 2 step verification聽 on your phone聽 and no local bank accounts doesnt do you much good if you are dead

There are guys who get scoped who have half their s*** together. You can hide your wallet and carry a burner phone, great, but that doesn't help much if the drug puts you in cardiac arrest. You can be drugged in a bar, through the air, before she gets you in the taxi. You all are taking a huge risk.

Unfortunately I can speak with experience on this matter.

After visiting and working in Colombia for 12-14 trips since 2012 and being fully aware of this risk I unfortunately got 'scoped' myself. An experienced traveller of ~40 countries and situationally aware, I definitely knew better, but momentarily let my guard down.

Whilst your precautions are reasonable, the reality is that Scopolomine works much like a 'truth serum' once it's effects take hold.

So in that state of mind you can willingly give the phone password/code that enables the criminals to then download the various payment apps and the PW to your email to authenticate. You may even tell them about your other phone and where it is located in that drugged state.

The daily bank withdrawal limits are helpful for hard cash being taken, however in my instance they mostly made transfers out via Western Union, Remitly transactions and probably 50% were online shopping purchases.

About 35 were attempted and 20 were successful.聽 I previously had no WU or Remitly account to speak of, these were setup by them. They were able to execute 2 factor authentication as they could access my emails and text messages. Find my iphone was turned off etc etc. If you had valuables in a Safe assume you have given them the code to access it.

Having given this some thought since the experience I came to the conclusion that parking some funds with a relative was one measure, especially if they are in a different timezone. You can also pre-arrange with them to not action any request immediately (in case you are under the influence) and that you need to confirm the next day. The more time you can delay the better off your chances of being able to stop a pending payment/transfer.

Other ways that incorporate some kind of significant delay (ie. 12 hours + to process a transfer) could also work. For me I also park some funds with my stock broker/financial advisor and they keep the funds there, still accessible, but it's not app driven and takes 2 business days to hit your normal bank account, again you are buying time.

If you are on a date you may be able to ask them for a Photo ID and text that to a friend, of course it could be a fake id.

Hope this helps, stay safe.

I lived in Medellin years ago and stupidly let my guard down a couple times and nothing happened. Risk wasnt justburundanga actually.

That was before " scoping " became聽 real popular.

Now I live in peacefu Manizales, dont party, only go to Medellin on business.

Last聽 聽time I was in Medellin almost got run over by a moto. Same thing can happen here in Manizales if聽 your not careful Crossing the street or behind park cars with the motor running.聽 Got hit by a car twice. Luckily no damage.

I have been all over Colombia聽 in the last 20 years including聽 guerrilla areas. It is safe as you make it. Depends who you g0 with, and when you go.

Burundandnga is on the bottom of my list of risks.

@pek333

With all due respect, I find your precauciones excessive and un necessary.

You are leaving details out.

What are the dtails of you " letting your guard down"?

Maybe analyze your behavior that Led to this聽 incident to stop this type of behavior and聽 prevent it happening聽 again.

If it had to do聽 with hookers or even supposedly normal women, you know you have聽 聽to be very, very cautious now a days, espesciay in Medellin or other聽 聽big cities.

I would even say hookers are a lot safer than women you meet online, because the situation is easier to control.

@pek333[...]I would even say hookers are a lot safer than women you meet online, because the situation is easier to control. - @nico peligro

I just wanna echo what you said, and add to it: I would even say that BROTHELS are a lot safer than using dating apps, because the brothel workers kinda have to be on their "best behavior" (AKA "don't harm the clients and harm our business") so as to not lose their jobs.

@nico peligro

I was simply responding to comments made by @stealtannest3t - specifically: " what precautions have you implemented to reduce the losses if you have the misfortune of being 'scoped'?"

The answer was to inform @stealtannest3t that things like daily ATM limit and email authentication, whilst an extra step for the criminal, are not insurmountable when the person drugged can just tell the robber their password.

The original question was not 'how did it happen to me' but in brief, I was cooking a meal for my date, the smoke alarm went off and I ran into the kitchen (from the lounge where we were chatting). I cannot be certain, but I believe this was when my drink was spiked.

My last memory is about 45 min to 1 hour later. I usually don't let a drink out of my sight, in hindsight I should have had the thought to replace the drink, but I was probably somewhat flustered dealing with the smoke etc.

@pek333

Dang. Even a MOMENT of not paying attention, and these criminal slimeballs got you. You were even COOKING FOR HER, and yet...! What ungrateful POS that demographic is (I've witnessed and experienced their ingratitude hundreds of times, so I stopped being a sweet and kind person with them). I am glad you don't feel bad or negligent, because what happened could have happened to even the sharpest and most alert of travelers.

Side-note: imagine if these people could harness their street smarts (and powerful smartphones) to better themselves. But no, instead they are so steeped in short-sighted criminality that they'd throw away a chance to make more money in the long term, just to make a lot less "right now"... and possibly hurt/kill a fellow human being in the process. Real myopic, low-IQ sh!t.

@pek333

Most.banks have daily ATm limits.

I guess they could go to 5聽 or 6 different banks

Thats why they call it expres贸聽 millionario聽 or聽 whatever

Your biggest risk by far is just dieing.

I guess they could go to 5 or 6 different banks.聽 聽 聽 Thats why they call it expres贸 millionario or whatever

It's called secuestro expr茅s

Just hanging around an ATM waiting for a victim to withdraw cash and then rob him/her, is a

fleteo

I guess they could go to 5 or 6 different banks.聽 聽Thats why they call it expres贸 millionario or whatever
It's called secuestro expr茅s
Just hanging around an ATM waiting for a victim to withdraw cash and then rob him/her, is a
fleteo - @OsageArcher

Yep.聽 This is why the most popular ATMs are those inside shopping centers, usually with some kind of security around.

@OsageArcher

Also called paseo millonario.

But whatever , best not to get into that Situation., period.

Glad I live in Manizales abd dont have to worry about this garbage

Glad I live in Manizales abd dont have to worry about this garbage - @nico peligro

Are you used to the rain yet? Maybe that helps keep the hampones less active LOL...

@pek333

btw thanks for your response.聽

Glad I live in Manizales abd dont have to worry about this garbage - @nico peligro
Are you used to the rain yet? Maybe that helps keep the hampones less active LOL...
- @OsageArcher

I thought it was changing to dry season, but then it got聽 foggy again. Not a ton of Rain in last few days though

@stealtannest3t

Hello

I sent you a PM about the STARR travel insurance local Colombian (or regional) representative聽 contact for health insurance for a聽 Colombian Visa

Can you please kindly send me a response?

It would be greatly appreciated.If itis still around $120, it would save me a lot of money, because I am trying for a 2 year visa, and if you get healthinsurance for only 1 year, chancesare slim they will give you 2 years.

Thanks in advance for your help

@nico peligro

Hi Nico just sent you a response via DM.聽

@nico peligro

For my 2nd Digital Nomad visa, I bought insurance for 2 years, and Migracion Colombia still gave me just 1 year visa. Same as my first visa. What a waste of money. I'm out.

@ChineduOpara

They raised minimum wage by 22./% and Cepedas popularity rating went up to 42./%

The young and "poor" still like Freebies

Shades of Chavez

See ya in Cuenca

@stealtannest3t

Thanks a lot.

Really appreciate it

@nico peligro

Yeah I saw the news last week as they were debating the increase, then I saw today that it's been settled... a little under 23% minimum salary increase.

Remind me, who or what is "Cepedas"? Is that one of the candidates for President?

@ChineduOpara

That's a bummer.聽

@stealtannest3t

The wasted seguro medico payment that is - don't really know about the salario minimo.聽

@stealtannest3t

yes thats not just a bummer, but also聽 a vote buying bummer, with the election coming up nextyear. Its gonna effect yours, mine and ours future Visa Applications, plus inflation, plus the exchange rate (up or down, maybe Peso gets stronger at first until the institutional investors in Colombian government bonds clue in and there will be a massive run on Colombian聽 bonds and CDTs and a correction), Obviously grossly聽 inappropriate and a political move. The highest they ever rasied it before historically was 10% when inflation was 8%.

@ChineduOpara

Cepeda is the candidate for president in Petros party- El Pacto Hist贸rico. My friends tell me he is even more radical than Petro, He was a member of the young communist party when he was younger, also had close ties with the guerrillas, was integral in the peace process with the Santos government , and a staunch anti-Uribista. Like Uribe.s聽 father was murdered by left wing guerrillas, Cepedas father was murdered by right wing extremists

He is probably more dangerous than Petro, as he is a lot smarter, and more reserved, and wouldnt open his mouth in a flap with Trump.

However, still , being a socialist, and a human rights advocate, even if we believe he has good intentions for the people, history has shown repeatedly that leftists governments, espescially聽 in Latin America have in the end, lead to economic hardships for the people,financial, social and political instability, and from a egoistical selfish perspective, never a good thing for us Expats.

@nico peligro

Well, dang. That's a whole lotta Colombian history that I wasn't quite aware of, thanks.

Can you expand upon your predictions about how the salary increase will be bad for expats? (I'm just curious academically, because I've already abandoned my plans to be a Permanent Resident in Colombia.)

I already explained. Its pretty basic.

Your required income or minimum.investment for聽 your visa will go up聽 23% for all types of visas, except conyuge. This is because all these values are based on the SMLMV聽 the salario minimo.

Plus inflation will go up even more.

The Banco聽 De la聽 Rep煤blica聽 will probably raise interest rates even more,leading at least in the short term to an even stronger peso.

This is unsustainabe because it effects government and private borrowing in Colombia.So theres bound to be a correction to the peso eventually. But who knows when? Could be in weeks or could be聽 in years.

In the short to m茅dium term anyway its going to mean at least 6 to 10% inflation for locals and probably 6 to 20 % loss of purchasing power for expats recieving US d贸llar based income, a bit less for $Cad, $Aus,$Euro聽 unless there is a big devaluation聽 of the peso sooner rather than later.

These are annual figures. Compare that to Ecuador聽 which is $US dollar based economy and has had less than 2% inflation聽 consistently in the last few years and you can see where this is going.

@nico peligro

Between your explainer and that of someone else, I now have a clearer picture of what this minimum salary increase means in Colombia. So thanks for that.

This all makes me feel more confident that I am making the right decision by (tentatively - 95% sure) getting out of Colombia this year.

The challenge is gonna be to find my next long-term base, a place within my budget, and which offers a real path to residency. I am looking at Mexico (top priority), then Ecuador, Peru, and even Serbia. Obviously that latter option will mean I'll lose my investment in Spanish language-learning, but we'll see...

Albania sounds cool

@nico peligro

Good one. I have already looked into both Albania and Serbia. On-paper I qualify for their Digital Nomad visas for both countries (Albania moreso than Serbia, which has a higher bar for entry), so it'd just be a matter of navigating their bureaucracy. I am leaning towards Serbia, because according to the POC who actually live there, Serbia is far more tolerant of POC than Albania. But back to the visa issue: Both Digital Nomad visas accumulate time towards residency, so none of that Colombia time-wasting BS 馃�烉煆�

On a side note, I am still upset at myself for wasting 3 years in Colombia, 3 years that did NOT count towards any long-stay visa. Oh well... I gotta keep working on self-forgiveness... I researched Colombia a lot before moving here but there is some information that was either entirely missing ("no one knows"), or the laws/rules changed. Oh well... I learned a lesson, one that I will never repeat... that's called "personal growth" 馃槄

@ChineduOpara

Almost every聽 聽country, every type of visa counts for accumulated time.

Colombia has so many road blocks and issues its ludicrous.

@ChineduOpara

So you didnt enjoy your time in Colombia?

I have been here 13 years and will probably have to leave in the next couple.

I loved my time in Colombia and still do聽 while I am here.

No regrets.. not on any of my聽 聽decisions in life.

It is what it is. Life is great.

Of course I am closer to the end than you are聽 so I have developed this sense of for every day of life.