I'm starting this thread not to scare people but to help people establish or share some kind of security protocols for traveling rather than just winging it and hoping for the best. Som erisk is inevitable when going to Poosy Paradise, but for me that means I want to be more aware, not more naive.
Even someone good at fighting and used to using that as damage control in the USA may feel it's hard to explain some bloody local lying unconscious when you can't speak the language, and may want to forestall trouble rather than taking the tough guy approach. People's tendency to blame and suspect "the foreigner" is a deep and ingrained biological tendency. If you end up in jail conditions may be horrific.
Boring 1st world countries have some positives: There may be less chance of being a crime victim simply because you know the culture, recognize danger signs, and may be more confident about calling the cops. You also might be more willing to defend yourself if that is part of your security strategy because you will be able to communicate with the cops.
In my experience cops are much less corrupt in the USA than they are reputed to be in EE. I've dealt with lots of cops getting stopped for my shitty driving and I've never been hit up for a bribe, intimidated or even treated rudely to be honest.
Areas of Reported problems:
1) Landlords
2) Scammer chicks ( robbery or extortion)
3) vehicle accidents
Here are some things I know have happened in foreign travels:
-- I had a violent landlord push/smack me around, hold me against my will until I left my valuables in his apartment, then force me out of an apartment in Ukraine, even though I was still paid up for another week.
--another expat there got in a fistfight with his landlord
-- Fisto, regular poster here and martial arts practitioner, reported being blackmailed/extorted in Thailand,
--a friend I had was recently severely injured in a bike accident in SE asia. Upon entering a public hospital he was so horrified he didn't check in and went looking for a private one. He will be weeks recovering.
--another guy, a large ex-military guy, cousin-of-a friend was jacked in Ukraine when he went to a chicks apartment and robbers were waiting there with knives.
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Failure points I can offer from my experience,
a) I was slacking and didn't make sure the lease was signed in Ukraine, so although I could have called the cops when landlord came to victimize me, I wouldn't have had a clear case.
b) The landlord tried to change the deal at the last minute and get two month's rent at once.
c) In my case, having the Ukrainian version of a lawyer at the lease signing and making sure landlord knew I was ready to call the cops upon misbehavior would have possibly prevented the attack.
Prevention seems way better than reacting overseas, as it's hard to calculate consequences, and variables such as police bias and corruption.
In my friend's case, I'm guessing he wasn't wearing proper footwear. Deep cuts are costing him weeks of trouble.
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I looked at Fisto's extortionist's profile on Thaifriendly. Extrapolating from her profile and other experience with crooks:
Things you might want to do to screen scammer chicks:
a) Look for is a complete profile. Fisto's extortionist had a very brief profile, with many fields left empty. (With Thaifriendly if you leave fields empty they do not appear in the profile) . Criminals are lazy ( I'm a published researcher in criminology) and will usually exert little effort at something with no immediate reward such as filling out an online profile. Perhaps that is one thing to look for in avoiding scammers.
b) Perhaps verifying ( not believing them ) they have a job besides bar employment would be good. Criminals have a tough time holding jobs because they don't want to follow instructions and like telling people off.
c) Verifying some education might be good, it takes some persistence and obedience.
So any failure or precaution reports from others saving the rest of us from problems might be useful. In particular landlords and chicks have acccess to one's personal space (dwelling) and I feel there is high risk with them as a result. If they decide to fuck with you they know how to find you and retaliation and intimidation may be difficult or plain stupid when you will be assumed to be the bad guy as a non-local.
Even someone good at fighting and used to using that as damage control in the USA may feel it's hard to explain some bloody local lying unconscious when you can't speak the language, and may want to forestall trouble rather than taking the tough guy approach. People's tendency to blame and suspect "the foreigner" is a deep and ingrained biological tendency. If you end up in jail conditions may be horrific.
Boring 1st world countries have some positives: There may be less chance of being a crime victim simply because you know the culture, recognize danger signs, and may be more confident about calling the cops. You also might be more willing to defend yourself if that is part of your security strategy because you will be able to communicate with the cops.
In my experience cops are much less corrupt in the USA than they are reputed to be in EE. I've dealt with lots of cops getting stopped for my shitty driving and I've never been hit up for a bribe, intimidated or even treated rudely to be honest.
Areas of Reported problems:
1) Landlords
2) Scammer chicks ( robbery or extortion)
3) vehicle accidents
Here are some things I know have happened in foreign travels:
-- I had a violent landlord push/smack me around, hold me against my will until I left my valuables in his apartment, then force me out of an apartment in Ukraine, even though I was still paid up for another week.
--another expat there got in a fistfight with his landlord
-- Fisto, regular poster here and martial arts practitioner, reported being blackmailed/extorted in Thailand,
--a friend I had was recently severely injured in a bike accident in SE asia. Upon entering a public hospital he was so horrified he didn't check in and went looking for a private one. He will be weeks recovering.
--another guy, a large ex-military guy, cousin-of-a friend was jacked in Ukraine when he went to a chicks apartment and robbers were waiting there with knives.
=======================
Failure points I can offer from my experience,
a) I was slacking and didn't make sure the lease was signed in Ukraine, so although I could have called the cops when landlord came to victimize me, I wouldn't have had a clear case.
b) The landlord tried to change the deal at the last minute and get two month's rent at once.
c) In my case, having the Ukrainian version of a lawyer at the lease signing and making sure landlord knew I was ready to call the cops upon misbehavior would have possibly prevented the attack.
Prevention seems way better than reacting overseas, as it's hard to calculate consequences, and variables such as police bias and corruption.
In my friend's case, I'm guessing he wasn't wearing proper footwear. Deep cuts are costing him weeks of trouble.
=======================
I looked at Fisto's extortionist's profile on Thaifriendly. Extrapolating from her profile and other experience with crooks:
Things you might want to do to screen scammer chicks:
a) Look for is a complete profile. Fisto's extortionist had a very brief profile, with many fields left empty. (With Thaifriendly if you leave fields empty they do not appear in the profile) . Criminals are lazy ( I'm a published researcher in criminology) and will usually exert little effort at something with no immediate reward such as filling out an online profile. Perhaps that is one thing to look for in avoiding scammers.
b) Perhaps verifying ( not believing them ) they have a job besides bar employment would be good. Criminals have a tough time holding jobs because they don't want to follow instructions and like telling people off.
c) Verifying some education might be good, it takes some persistence and obedience.
So any failure or precaution reports from others saving the rest of us from problems might be useful. In particular landlords and chicks have acccess to one's personal space (dwelling) and I feel there is high risk with them as a result. If they decide to fuck with you they know how to find you and retaliation and intimidation may be difficult or plain stupid when you will be assumed to be the bad guy as a non-local.
