Stolen phone scam

[Rioja John]

To all this follows on from my Benidorm or bust thread, Pat and I had a really good night out on Sat 13 Dec walking up past Benidorm palace a young man stopped us and asked for directions to a hotel in Finstrat, I told him he was a good way off and he asked if I could bring google maps up to show him where it was, he then asked where he could get a taxi which I told him, he thanked me and off he went.We walked farther up the hill when another young man crossed the road and asked if we had seen his mate who was looking for this particular hotel he asked if I could load google maps to show him where it was next minute he grabbed my phone ran across the road jumped in a car and sped off.
So be really aware of this scam, anyway I’m savvy enough to contact my provider stopped my contract, cancelled my travel money card, wiped my phone clean of all my info and the young B@$]@rds who robbed me are welcome to the phone as I had recently dropped it broke the camera lense and cracked the screen.
When I get home in February I was going to get a new phone anyway.
Just be very aware of helping anyone as it may bite you back, but this scam could happen anywhere.
They even tried to get in my google account and was notified on my iPad that if it wasn’t me to change my password straight away which I did.

 

[JumpShip]

There barstewards everywhere ! Was he a brit , Spanish, Romania??

 

[Rioja John]

They were young I’d say twenty’s very well dressed and very polite brilliant spoken English with a foreign accent, no violence used whatsoever no demands for money, they just asked me to help them find this fictitious hotel.

 

[Dellmassive]

unbelievable. . . . glad your ok.

have you reported it to the police?

you cant let them get away with it by keeping quiet - they could be doing this to 50 people a day!

these small crimes need to be reported as all the reports add up. . .

post it on FB and social media as well to give this exposure.

ill share my end.

 

[Drive Wayne]

Hope you and Pat are OK John, shocking scary thing to happen, B4stards.

 

[dubber36]

Trust no one.

We were in a hotel in Lanzarote a few weeks ago. We never bother with the safe because the staff can be trusted, right? Well not so. £50 went missing from my wife's purse, which was in her bag. Some notes may have gone from my wallet too, but I can't be sure if there was any in there or not.

Why would they steal sterling? Well, I guess not many people would notice it missing until they got home. In the mean time £50 here, £20 there soon add up and makes a trip to the bureau de change worthwhile.

The hotel were very good about it. We didn't kick up a fuss or make a scene and they refunded the money to our credit card.

 

[DXX]

When I get home in February I was going to get a new phone anyway.

@Rioja John if you buy a new phone in Spain you can get the 21% VAT back, there’s a handling fee but it’s still a decent chunk of cash back in your pocket.
Apple in Marbella do it for certain so no doubt the other big stores do as well.

 

[Rioja John]

Been sorting a new phone out today bought from Andy in the indoor market great chap sorted us out, ID mobile sent ESIM straight away Andy loaded it up for me transferred all Pats data off her phone to new one for us.
Didn’t realise how much you loose when your phone is stolen.
Anyway new Samsung A35 5G phone plus black leather holder 295Euros. Well chuffed only thing is waze maps are in Spanish but google maps in English.

 

[Skyliner33]

Been sorting a new phone out today bought from Andy in the indoor market great chap sorted us out, ID mobile sent ESIM straight away Andy loaded it up for me transferred all Pats data off her phone to new one for us.
Didn’t realise how much you loose when your phone is stolen.
Anyway new Samsung A35 5G phone plus black leather holder 295Euros. Well chuffed only thing is waze maps are in Spanish but google maps in English.

Change the language in settings.

 

[Voodoo_Pirate]

Treat yourself to a trip to London, especially anywhere between south bank and Borough high street….. not only will you have your phone taken and your fancy watch, you’ll get to experience what it’s like to have a machete and or gun shoved in your face.

 

[DXX]

Treat yourself to a trip to London, especially anywhere between south bank and Borough high street….. not only will you have your phone taken and your fancy watch, you’ll get to experience what it’s like to have a machete and or gun shoved in your face.

1/3 of the planet is like that, when you’re getting mugged by armed soldiers you realise why not many people want to work in certain countries.
On the subject of second hand phones, buying one is just perpetuating the market for stolen phones.