Britannia_C

No one has to believe me. I am the one who experienced it. Fear is very powerful. You will do anything to get out of that situation; $46 euros or $1000 euros seemed to be a small price to pay for my freedom. I was in a foreign country and I was in shock.---

Robert2533

Okay, something’s a little strange (rather fishy smelling) about this post. It’s identical to one on TA from another traveler from Calgary (uniden1) dated 25 Oct, except the amount was €250. Same scam. Same scenario.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...rt-Madrid.html

Britannia_C

Thanks for the thumbs up Rocio. Why don't you just do an investigation. That is all I ask.

Britannia_C

Yes, I posted it in Tripadvisor as well. I also posted it through Cosmos Vacations. I live in Calgary. I normally just use tripadvisor but wanted to get my story out. I wrote to all the agencies on the list; I need to get some closure to this. That is all. Lynn

wobbers

people should not steel

Robert2533

Then what was the correct amount? €46 or €250, as posted on TA?

Britannia_C

250

Judy_Mulholland

This was a very harrowing experience for a a women travelling on her own. They used the fact that you were female and alone to intimidate you.In hindsight you probably shouldn't have gone into the back room with them, but lets face it, you've done nothing wrong and are sure the problem will be resolved quickly. We have different rules and attitudes here in Canada.Who would have ever expected to be treated this way. They searched your bags and the absolute worse was that they actually placed their hands on you and searched your person!! Having been to Spain and other foreign countries and know they carry guns on them. How intimidating that alone is!! The whole episode is a nightmare. I totally understand why you just decided to pay for whatever it was and get yourself out of there to a place you feel safe again. Thank you for letting everyone know about this scam. It's a heads up for other travellers, women in particular.

zeppole

Hey, I'd pay!

Some years ago In Madrid, a hard-faced man posing as an undercover policeman tried to bully me into showing him my passport by flashing a badge at me among other things, but it was on the street so I just ran toward a bunch of construction workers.

Today, inside an airport, even if it's only a shop, you'd really need to have your wits about you to start resisting the commands of people posing as uniformed personnel. And if you made the mistake of obeying them, it would only be normal to calculate that buying your way out of the situation -- being locked in a private room with practiced thugs -- was cheaper than paying for the curiousity of what they might do next if you screamed or bullied back.

Brittania_C, by buying your way out, you are my kind of sensible woman. Bravo for you. And thank you for posting. There are a number of Spain-defenders and travel-defenders at all costs posters who will call you names for your willingness to tell this tale to help others. I hope you sleep better than they do tonight.

november_moon

Yes, this is a good heads up. These people use your fear and lack of familiarity with the place to their advantage. And for women specifically, they use our societal training against us - most women are taught to be nice and avoid conflict. I am a small woman too and I often travel alone, so I know what it is like. You just have to expect the scams and guard against them. And don't be afraid to stand up for yourself. You can still be polite, but firm.

One of the best defenses against this type of thing is just your body language. If you look confident and sure of yourself, then a lot of would-be scammers will pass you up and look for another mark. OTOH, if you look unsure, fidgety, lost, etc. then you will look like an easy target - they want someone easily distracted, easy to intimidate or influence.

Robert2533

Sorry to doubt the poster, but this is coming from someone who has been traveling to Mexico since 2004 according to her earlier posts and doesn't know when to call the police?

josele

It is easy to speak of "Spain-defenders and travel-defenders", but after reading the Tripadvisor post I wonder: why the differences from one narrative to the other?
But anyway, I am not placing doubts on OP; I just hope people here knows what to do if the situation arises: do not obey anyone but the Police, do not go into back rooms, sign nothing, call your consul if necessary.

november_moon

And to add to josele's list, people should also remember that there are worse things than missing a flight, train, bus, etc.

Britannia_C

There is no difference between one post and the other. What is different? I only had one thing in my mind, and that was to get out safely so i could be a mother to my children and a grandmother to my grandson.

joannyc

I think what josele is referring to is that the Fodors post mentions the value at €46 while the TA post mentions it at €250. Also, in one post you mention that you don't know what's in the jewelry box but on the other you mention that it is a ring.

Britannia_C

To Josele and Robert 2533;

What is it that makes it so hard to believe that this happened to me? I had a transatlantic plane to catch in less than 1/2 hour. Do you think that someone would have paid for a ticket back for me. Do you think that seeing a gun didn't make me think that I could have gotten killed if I had not cooperated and paid. I know in my heart that this is what happened and no matter what kind of dirt you would like to pull up on me, I feared for my life. I would think you would have an ounce of compassion but obviously you would rather condemn. Hope you can sleep tonight.

Britannia_C

I am unsure what it is but it seems to be a ring. It is too small to be a watch. Who knows. All I received was an empty box. It was 250 Euros. ANything else?

Britannia_C

In the box is a tag with nothing in it. The tag reads "7541791" On the other side it says 925 Sterling Silver. the box looks like it may have held a ring, a charm, something like that. As I said, I do not know. on the back of the box reads IRP Majorica SS TU Yo Ri If you can figure it out, let me know.

Cowboy1968

If you try to forget for a second the facts YOU know but noone else knew:

You had been in a rush to catch your plane. So you "accepted" to pay for the "theft".
But how could those security people know?

You could as well have been someone with a 3 hour transfer, or someone who would tell them to call the police, regardless how late it was. Or scream for police.

One security guard even made the "threat" to call the police. How much sense does that make if it were a scam?

And, since they walked you to the cash register, the person at the cash register must have been part of the scam, too?
And how do they, the "thugs", get the cash since they even gave you a receipt with those stamps on it. So the transaction went through the computer system, and they can't just take the $250 from the cash register?

Honestly, they only way this makes any sense is that the security people took you for a thief by mistake.
I don't see any reasonable way that they could have gained a financial benefit from it, unless they stole the merchandise to sell it elsewhere.
But shop and security personnel can steal much easier in a quiet moment if they want the merchandise than be causing a total zoo that (under other circumstances) would have attracted unwanted attention by the airport police. Especially if it was a scam that was pulled twice a day.

Britannia_C

I had gone in there and purchased a box of olives. I had to show them my boarding pass. They would have seen that my plane left in 1/2 hour. That is the only thing I can think of. I do agree that there probably was a theft but it was not me and I was proven guilty and humiliated.