A Scam Against Pensioners in Mexico

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Boots On The Ground Information

Unfortunately, times haven’t changed much in Mexico over the last 100 years, or even the 100 years before that. Bandits, thieves, robbers, whatever you want to call them, are plentiful throughout. I have just come across a situation happening in the state of Veracruz that warrants some attention–to my knowledge little is spoken about it. I won’t be foolish in assuming that this article of mine will bring anybody to justice (especially since it’s produced in English) in a place where the rule of law has long been killed–but this should serve a purpose to get a greater handle of what you’re dealing with the “3rd world” and LATAM in general. I hope these little posts can provide further clarity for you in making your own decisions with your residence and wealth.

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Mexico has a HUGE Problem with Alcohol

Scam

Mexico is changing in many ways when it comes to fintech matters, slowly, but it’s changing. The current old age pension system works somewhat like it may have 80 years ago in the United States. You form a queue, and when you’re there you present your identification for a woman behind a desk, sort of like a bank teller, to issue your ‘X’ amount of pesos for the month. Mexican state support is nearly non-existent, but it’s enough to hold many people over in their older age.

Mexico is a lifestyle play for international portfolio design, don’t keep your most precious eggs here

The change is now the government has now begun handing out bank cards (either bank cards for ATM withdrawal or pre-paid credit cards, I’m not sure) whereby people have to go to an ATM or interact with a digital account to withdraw the cash in hand. For you reading, you’d much prefer go this route and you’d solve this in 10 minutes at best I’m sure. But Mexico can be a backward, old-fashioned place and like all old-age pensioners, they’re set in their ways.

Some have resorted to interact with the machine, but others have stayed in the line, and these are the victims.

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What happens is that the people who remain in line are approached by someone who convinces them to take a free water or drink because “you’re waiting out in this hot sun” or “free water on me if you want to buy some candy, too”. People oblige. However, this water is laced with a sedative drug.

It’s not like in the moves where the drug is fast-acting. Rather, the people have enough time to remain clear and sober enough to go to the teller–and it is on their way home (when the criminals know they have cash on them) that they rob them without them even fully noticing.

So yes, the latest scam is that those who know people are there to collect their money target them specifically–especially if they’re older, to rob old Abuela.

To me this tells me two main tales: 1) I already mentioned, Mexico, even though it has many positives, is not culturally designed to understand private property, wealth management and law & order. This should be a major takeaway from people trying to plan their lives internationally.

2) In an indirect way, your government, wherever you are living–is that guy giving you that drink. Government’s constantly lure their victims with enticing offers, little lies and wait for the right time to fully exploit their citizen milk-cows. Knowing this, you should strive to interact with the government as least as humanly possible–same as you’d avoid this scammer on the street.

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