Phone Napping And Extortion In Guatemala

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Before moving to Guatemala from Costa Rica I traveled there as an attempt to get as many things done for the moving. It was a race against time. We wanted to make this transition for our son as smooth as possible, which usually involves gifts of some sorts in the middle of all the running.

That day we were going to get him a bicycle. The way this worked is that we bought him stuff and told him that it would be waiting for him when we arrive, so he'll be excited to come back and leave his life behind in Costa Rica. I was thinking of these days when I remembered that at every store you arrive to in Guatemala you must leave your bags at the counter. Not purses, but stuff like shopping bags and back packs.

One day while shopping we entered into an empty store, where there were only us. Regardless, my husband had to leave his bag at the front desk. Thirty minutes after entering the store and walking around we came out of the store and bought nothing (there was a good reason why it was so empty). Probably we just couldn't think of anything that we can make use of from the store itself. When my husband got his things back we checked his things and then just realized his phone was gone. Well nobody knows what actually happened to the phone and the only explanation we could think of was that it was stolen at the counter.

This taught me 2 lessons: first don't bring anything valuable to Guatemala unless you want to keep it in your hotel's room and the second one was make sure you have all the phone numbers saved elsewhere, not just on your cell phone. You don't want to be like my husband freaked out about how he'll contact any of his friends and co-workers again.

However, the stealing of the phone was not the real problem but the ultimate fear he had about the new and somewhat creative way criminals are taking advantage of people here in Guatemala these days. Apparently thieves will be calling everyone in your phone book and extorting money from them by saying that they have kidnapped you and they want money. NICE!

So I started wondering do I really want to live here? However, I've been assured for the billionth time Antigua is completely different. And from my experience so far, I'd say it is.

About the Author:
Marina K. Villatoro is an expat living with her family and traveling in Central America. She has learned Guatemala fact by living in the country.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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