SENIORS BEWARE!

Mononoke28 says on Oct 29, 2008, 09:40:

That's the first thing I thought about, security cameras. So it definitely sounds like a bank employee, or employees are in on it because how else would the two men have known she had cash in the envelope.

Something similar happened to a friend of my mother's. He and his wife are in their late 60s, early 70s but have lived in the US for over 40 years. They were in Medellín living part time, bought a penthouse apartment and were doing some upgrades to it. The guy went to the bank and withdrew $5000 USD to pay the architect and as soon as he was out the door, wham! Some guys came up to him with some schpill, he thought it was weird and started to run but the guys caught up with him, hit him and stole the money. Again, the bank did absolutely nothing and later a cop told my mom's friend that it was very common for a bank teller or anyone working there to call an associate who waits outside the bank with details of the person they're supposed to jump. The clothes they're wearing, how much money they have, if they're alone or not, etc. And there's nothing you can do. =(

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:11:

What is really astounding about the whole story is that they have lived there all their lives and yet still fell for this scam.

ts

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:16:

But they're older. Let's see how sharp and crafty you'll be when you're 80.

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:23:

I hate to say it, but bank employees are often in on all kinds of scams.

Some friends of ours where robbed at gunpoint after leaving a bank in Neiva with a large amount of cash. They were stopped several miles away about 15 minutes after leaving the bank. The robbers knew exactly how much money they had withdrawn despite the fact that it was hidden in the car by that point.

Never trust bank employees and certainly never hand your cash over to anyone you don't know. Better yet, if at all possible, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, especially when leaving a bank.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:24:

They do that to the Old Spanish people here in Miami also-its a weekly newsbit in the Miami Herald. I would also agree, they had a Mole Plant in the Bank, probably the tellar. That's a Old Trick, as Old as the mystical "School of the 7 Bells, north of Bogota" !

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:27:

Sounds like they need someone taking care of them and doing their bills for them. Frankly I am very surprized that is not the case.

ts

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mrgizmo says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:47:

Unfortunately, when it comes to the retiremen money (pension) they have to do it personally, it's a requirement and there are ways to have this pension deposited into your account but the paperwork that has to be done every 3 months and notarized is not worthwhile to them.
They lived all their lives in Bogota but when you become 80ish and in poor health your mind is NOT as sharp as it used to be, that's why these hoodlums prey on them.
It saddens me that they ripped them off and also that these thiefs got away with it clean and that somebody else is going to fall too. This wasn't the first time they did it and I'm sure it won't be the last.
Interesting thing, there was no security guard at this bank, very convenient.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:51:

And chose not to look at the security camera recordings. It's a big scam for sure.

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:53:

Goes back to a true lack of Transparency in Colombia, still to this date.

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

alejogn says on Oct 29, 2008, 10:59:

hmmm.... well, I was living in Cali for about 18 years (born there) but I think that's the main reason why I'm living outsite even from the country is because of that, some people there want to live for free or making the less effort as possible. This is something that the narco-traffic leave in Cali, people who used to spend big amount of money without deserve it, some of them illiterate people. that's why exists "well-dressed men" doing that on the streets, I think that this is the only one place in the world where something like that happen in that way quite often, being robbed by a well-dressed man who can be working or doing something else about life... that's a shame.

there is not escape, 76% of the cocaine in the world comes from Colombia and that is killing us more than the fuckers druggers.

there are many good things you can find only in Cali and many of them that you can't even realize that they are AWESOME. I wrote a song last month speaking about it, if you understand the lyrics you probably will see what I mean... from London to the Branch of the Sky (Cali!!) http://www.cintexcol.com/alejandro/antiguas_calles.mp3

cheers.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Oct 29, 2008, 11:07:

Not to mention that the CAN area is crowded with military personel. La Esmeralda is a nice neighborhood

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Oct 29, 2008, 11:29:

This is why I never deal directly with a Bank Teller In Col unless I absolutely cannot avoid it. At the Citibank in Bogota I deal with, I use the ATM in the Bank and No way that teller knows what I am taking out. I'd rather take a chance with the Machine then with a teller who has loose lips,,,

Probably Graduates of the School of 7 Bells,,,

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jonas says on Oct 29, 2008, 12:33:

yeah, them bank tellers/personal can be dangerous. A friend of mine had 500k US$ ! in his bank account in Ecuador. When he needed the money it wasn´t there anymore and the person handling his account had left the job and country with his dough. Bummer. He had faked the withdrawals as if my friend had taken out the money. Now try getting the money back...

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Oct 29, 2008, 12:43:

Wow-your friend had a lot more faith then I Ever would have had, leaving $500K in a south american Bank(uninsured) Why so much money ina Ecuadorian Bank?

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 29, 2008, 12:59:

mariacvetanoski says on Oct 29, 2008, 13:37:

Inside job alright, there was a guy in Cali, American and YOUNG, and he pulled out 4000$ from his bank, only to be followed home by 2 guys on motorccyles NOT only to steal his cash BUT his laptop too, they knew the exact amount and pulled out a gun to make sure he did not run, everyone has to watch out when they go to the banks there...

Save the street children of Colombia Now!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

jonas says on Oct 29, 2008, 13:41:

He had the money parked in Ecuador because he lives there part time and he wanted the fat interest of about 10%. The money was meant to buy a new house and to invest in a business. I remember him running around telling everybody that this particular bank (I don´t remember the name but I believe it was backed by a Chilean bank) was the safest to give your money to. I guess it doesn´t really matter what bank, you can have a crop bank employee no matter what bank you deal with.

Mi alma se la dejo al diablo

0 funny, 0 helpful.

expatriate says on Oct 29, 2008, 14:52:

In general, bank tellers are there for you to make deposits. ATMs are for withdrawals. If you need to pay someone a lot of money, use your ATM card to transfer the money to the other person's account.

If you absolutely must walk out of the bank with a lot of money, in front of dozens of witnesses and a teller who has your home address, your destination that day cannot be the home address that you have on record at the bank.

In Cali, and maybe elsewhere, you can request a police escort if you need to transport a lot of cash.

In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

azunoman says on Oct 29, 2008, 16:42:

thank you for bringing this to our attention...will certainly make mom in law in Cali aware...

Playing the ugly American on request or as required. Ready, Fire, Aim

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Noelito40 says on Oct 30, 2008, 11:47:

I heard a story a few week ago about a woman who went to a bank (Banco de Colombia I think??) and gave a deposit to a guy sitting behind the counter. Apparently he had a computer and everything. Anyway the guy said he had to go and talk to someone else or whatever, so off he went...then the real teller sat down and asked the woman what he could do for her!! she explained that she was ok she was being attended to by his colleague and then he explained that he had no colleague, he had just come back from his lunch break and he was the only teller!!

Needless to day the ladrone scarpered and so the woman contacted the bank looking for her money back. The bank however said that they are not responsible until the money is handed to one of their employees. The bank refused to pay up as they said that all bank staff are obliged to wear their official ID at all times, (Now how many of us check that the teller we are dealing with is wearing his officiual badge??)

At the end of the day however there was some good news (whcih also might help the OP) and that is that the bank subcontract the security on their premises to a third party security firm, so in this case the security was negligent. They did not spot thieves sitting down behind the counter in the bank!! so the security firm paid up.

Although security is for prevention, the better option of course is to find a cure and that is why it baffles me that in Colombia the banks, and in particular the government, don't do more to cut down on cash transactions and encourage electronic transactions. Things like free banking for pensioners, or those on the minimum wage for example. Fewer people carrying large wads of cash would reduce the instances of the types of theft described in the thread, and of course the banks would get new accounts. I appreciate that it's a cultural thing and people here are cynical and sceptical of banks, but I believe this culture can be changed...

Noelito

0 funny, 0 helpful.

ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Oct 30, 2008, 12:00:

Sadly, banks in Colombia don't give a rat's ass about their customers. They are absolute parasites that charge their customers outrageous fees for any possible reason.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mrgizmo says on Oct 30, 2008, 13:05:

Seniors are targeted everywhere in the world with this type of scams. They move slow and their minds are not as sharp as the younger people.
In my mother-in-law's case, there was no security guard at the bank and when I asked why didn't she just deposit the money and use ATM, she replied that she needs cash on a daily basis to pay groceries to pay bills, to give to the domestic employee and she would not be able to go to the ATM that frequently.
She finally was able to go to the police department somewhere in 45th street and gave a formal complaint. The police department themselves told her she would never be able to get her money back and that the only thing she could do was to go to the Fiscalia (Attorney general) and have them force the bank to show the recording and identify the thieves.
At her age and in her present medical condition I know that she is not going to take this any further.
All we can do is tell every one about it and hope that no one else will become an easy prey of these hoodlums.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Mononoke28 says on Oct 30, 2008, 13:18:

I know, poor people. Here in the US "telemarketers" call senior citizens with all kinds of offers asking for their credit card numbers so they can get them and get robbed a ton of money that way, not to mention their identities.

Diana

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Oct 31, 2008, 08:57:

And seniors aren't the only targets. There is always someone watching looking for a target...easy or hard...they don't care.

I had a young punk that was going to rip me off that I wrote in a previous post. I had let my guard down and accidentally flashed some money and believe me word got out FAST!

ts

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.