Akumal Tips

Submitted for your approval on September 28th, 2006 by Tortuga.
Categories: Mexico-smart tips.

Continuing this series of gas station scams at the government owned Pemex — not by the government, mind you, but by the attendants who will try to supplement their day’s wages. This is the second most common Pemex scam to try to get you to part with a few extra dollars at the gas station pump.

The second most common Pemex scam is a simple one, actually. Like the upcoming third one, it depends on your unfamiliarity with local currency and that extra step of a tourist having to make conversion rates back to American dollars in his head.

This scam and the third one is based simply on giving you back the wrong change. But here is the actual presentation of this scam which you should look out for:

Let’s say that the amount of gas pumped in your vehicle comes out to 250 pesos and you give the attendant a 200 peso bill and a 100 peso bill, totaling 300 pesos. The attendant owes you 50 pesos, right? Well, instead of giving you your change as one 50 peso bill, what the attendant may do is to first give you a 5 peso coin. He is hoping that your tentativeness with Mexico’s pesos and your desire to appear like you know what you are doing, that you will mistakenly think the 5 peso is the proper change and immediately say “Gracias” and move on, perhaps even giving him that 5 peso as an extra tip. You’re supposed to get 50 pesos back but you’ve got a number 5 in your head and you may simply think that you were incorrectly thinking 50.

Now just in case you are street smart and know the difference between 5 pesos and 50 pesos, after he gives you the 5 peso, the attendant will still retrieve the additional change but at a very slow pace. He is trying to pace himself to see if you will think he gave you all of your change back already. If you don’t pocket the change, say “Gracias”, and return to your vehicle, he will continue to pull the additional two 20 peso bills, but at a snail’s pace.

The solution to not being taken by the “giving the change back slowly” Pemex scam is to simply watch the change the attendant gives you and count it carefully. Don’t let your self-consciousness about your tentativeness with Mexican currency cause you to rush through it. Don’t be embarrassed if it takes you a little extra time to count. And don’t automatically turn away from him just because he hesitates after giving you the rest of your change. Be certain he has given you all your change back. Just take your time, pay attention, and make sure it all adds up.

If you want more to read…

• Akumal Tip #026 - Pemex Scam #1

• Akumal Tip #005 - Getting gas at the Pemex gas station and how not to get rooked

• Driving Directions from Cancun Airport to Akumal Mexico

• Akumal Tip #030 - This little light of mine

• Akumal DVD Introduces Akumal to the World

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