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Original poster

AIBU to create a fake wallet in case of a mugging..

32 replies

gardenisblooming · 29/07/2024 10:59

I'm going to be travelling around South America, and will be taking precautions to remain safe. I'm staying in hotels, not hostels, and will have guides with me a lot of the time. (Travelling with DP). However, I've heard there are still a lot of muggings, and some in broad daylight in full view of other people. Would it be a bad idea to take with a couple of expired credit cards / fake ones in a wallet, with a few dollar bills, and receipts that would look like a genuine wallet I could hand over in the event of it happening, and I can keep my passport and genuine cards in a hidden purse under my clothes? How do I even go about getting that sort of thing (eg if I use an expired genuine card, then they have my name). Am I being ridiculous? Amazon sell a decoy wallet for about £70 which seems a lot but indicates it is a thing?! Any suggestions or tips v welcome. Thank you!

OP posts:
User14March · 29/07/2024 11:23

@gardenisblooming they might not notice if inside a bigger wallet

Original poster
gardenisblooming · 29/07/2024 11:22

Yes, we are both going to take an old phone too.

We won't carry much cash anyway, apart from the places where we will need it. I'm more thinking about the aggravation if our credit cards and phones are stolen, as we won't have laptops, and how do we then cancel everything and also protect against identity theft.

I'm thinking about the types of muggings where it is direct, ie they come and ask for your belongings (and apparently this happens on the streets in daylight). I'm very scared of that happening. (I have also heard of it happening in the UK too now which is concerning).

I don't think my old passport would work as the corner is cut?..

OP posts:
Squirrelman · 29/07/2024 11:21

You are not being unreasonable. The average mugger will want to get your belongings as quickly as possible and get away. There will be no negotiation. He/she will not take time to examine what you are handing over. The fact that they are getting away with a wallet will feel like a victory to them. Don't worry about identity theft. When they realise that the cards are expired, they will be binned. Don't spend alot of money for the Amazon one. Get an old one from a charity shop and fill that. I got mugged in a market in Mexico City in front of a load of people. They got my loose notes, my camera, my sunglasses and my trainers but they missed the important stuff that I was carrying hidden. Scary at the time but I got it all back on the travel insurance. Just material stuff at the end of the day. Enjoy your time in Latin America. People there are wonderful.

HettyMeg · 29/07/2024 11:16

I'd be worried this could make you more of a target ie make someone angry. Why not just carry less cash?

HollyKnight · 29/07/2024 11:13

Also take an old phone with you which you can hand over if necessary. I saw a video of a mugger getting on a bus and demanding people give him their phones. One woman hid her real phone down the side of the seat and pulled out an old one from her bag to give him. I thought it was very clever and now carry a old phone in my bag just in case.

User14March · 29/07/2024 11:11

Expired passport too if going to town on this idea?

NCScout · 29/07/2024 11:08

I think this is a great idea. I think my credit card has the same number but then a different expiry date with each new card, so this may mean they have a valid card number and might be able to guess the new expiry date. I think you could work round this though they are not going to be looking too closely at the cards.

Another thing is that they will probably realise that you will have your passport on you at all times and would probably be well aware of money belts etc. A fake wallet would definitely fool pick pockets though and I would probably say hide money in a few different places.