Buenos Aires Scams: Black Market, Thieves & Danger!

[@BrentTimm]

I really hope you enjoyed this video! Do you want to see me cover more scams in other countries?

[@edgywagy145]

Yeah

[@keithwhite4485]

@CanSoU Yes, but if you are a foreigner there is a 30% charge on your transaction.

[@keithwhite4485]

The Cuevas are sacrosanct. Nobody robs them, and if anyone was giving out counterfeit notes, they would be dealt with accordingly. In the smaller cities, the cuevas are in their their own offices. When I was there recently, a guy was shot for his $10,000 Rolex. Why would that be a surprise, when he was wearing a short sleeved shirt. The robber was from Paraguay.

[@PabloPucciOK]

This video is a little tabloid or clickbait. Buenos Aires, and Argentina in general is safer than big cities of USA. Just see the numbers and statistics. The only dangerous areas in Argentina are the suburbs around Buenos Aires city, and some villas (poor neighborhoods inside the city). Besides that pick pocket happens in every major city around the world. And finally you can perfectly use your phone in the streets. Obviously if you are in an area like outside the terminal de retiro, is better if you just check what you need while holding strongly your phone and the put in in your pocket. Just be smart. Walk the city relaxed and enjoy, I recommend using a byke also...

[@timmartino8835]

Breathtaking but shamefull..🤣

[@reyes12094]

I just came back from Buenos Aires and, fortunately, I suffered no thefts of any kind. If anything, I found the city to feel safe. I'm sure some of these petty thefts have occurred, but all the peddlers that approached me in cafes just looked like poor people trying to make a living. I even bought socks from one of them, and kleenex from the other. Some of them were pushy, but I learned to say "no, gracias" and that's it. I do try to exercise caution everywhere, but really, I walked to my AIRBNB from a nightclub at 2am and older women were walking their dogs out on the street. If they felt safe, I felt safe. Buenos Aires felt blessed with agreeable people, terrific restaurants and cafes. I walked everywhere, didn't take taxis, took the Subte (the Subway) and felt at peace.

[@BrentTimm]

I agree! VERY SAFE. It really means so much to me that you watched my video and commented. Hopefully you were able to follow my channel :)

[@marcos14223]

it is, im Argentinian, never suffered any theft. But i know the danger is there, Moto thievs are dangerous now days they pull over and the one in the back jumps with a gun and aims at you. But yeah, if u earn in USD Argentina is good place to lieve, great meat and cheap (in usd) great wine and beatifull women

[@87btbwood]

Very safe

[@TheLAMARQUENET]

on my experience, is quite a safe city. I think some things you mention are a bit more of a miss understanding. For example the black exchange is pretty typical to do it on the streets, but yes western union is definitively better.

[@dinamitafredy]

the thief is him, because he lies to have an audience

[@josesaumell2908]

I lived in Buenos Aires 10 years, very accurate, I was victim of the socks scam and lost a cell phone unfortunately. I would add avoid any taxi from an airport, bus station or train station. They are organized as a little mafia by the taxi driver union. There are only a selected group of taxi drivers that are allowed by the little mafia to pickup passengers there. And they will try many ways to charge you more. Shameful as an argentine to see all the scams , hopefully we will react one day and demand a little more.

[@edgywagy145]

Gracias

[@DemureDelight8055]

What is a good way to arrange to get from the airport to your apartment without getting scammed?

[@agustinschlosman5493]

@@DemureDelight8055 Uber :D

[@ObelixBarbatus]

Yep. I was also taken for a joyride by a taxi driver who pretended not to know where the restaurant I wanted to visit was. His scam was hilarious, with him not pretending to know the way and regularly polling other taxi drivers. Ah, well, so it goes.

[@franciscoluisgonimendieta2803]

Por suerte ya te fuíste !!

[@RichiLopez24]

Spent two months in BA. I walked the whole city and openly used my smart phone. Visited the villas (slums). I traveled by bus to Patagonia region. Never had a problem. BA is one of the safest cities in Latin America (outside of cdmx).

[@miguelmeza8088]

I'm from Dallas Texas I was there for nine days in Recoleta I went to san telmo, Palermo,Puerto Madero and I never once felt unsafe! Now walking through downtown Dallas that's a different story

[@4getabodit1]

My daughter was there with friends from there.

[@luislemos9131]

True! I had to stop at a south dallas Walmart and it was protected by DPD not rent a cops! Damn.

[@spencer1226]

Someone attempted the "Kleenex scam" on me my very first day in Buenos Aires. Thankfully I realized what was going on and thwarted the attempt. He was selling packaged dress shirts and when he set it on top of my phone he used the packaging to hook my phone so that it would get grabbed when he picked up the shirt. Glad I was paying attention and quickly pulled out my phone. I learned my lesson, changed my behavior and haven't had any other problems now about 7 months later. Sadly, the guy looked to be about 14 years old, so I'm guessing he's been trained and put to work by someone older. Definitely worth learning what cons exist and how they work! With some basic precautions, I feel quite safe here and love the city and people. As someone else mentioned below, most of the people selling things in the street seem to be honest people just trying to make ends meet.

[@BrentTimm]

Whoa! Spencer, thanks for sharing your story. Hopefully more people can learn from our stories. Take care and hope you subbed :)

[@c4nchi]

That's not a scam, a scam is when you order something and you receive another different thing.

[@dipf7705]

@@c4nchi thats not a scam, a scam is when you fall on your bicycle and get a scrape and the it gets hard while healing

[@quintana4112]

borralo a la concha

[@davidsandilands350]

Four of us (2 couples all retired) stayed in Buenos Aires for 4 days pre cruise and had the most fantastic time and visited San Telmo as well as other areas and we felt safe all of the time. We had a better time here than on the cruise.

[@Carolaprieto9023]

Have you visited Mendoza? the land of malbec and the greatest wines in the world. Cheers

[@matiasv.1987]

The population in all the Metropolitan área of BA si about 15 million people. 3M is only in the main district.

[@ExclusiveLM]

Here are more tips: Do not go to someone's house you meet in the street or in any business. Many tourists are taken advantage physically and monetarily that why when they drop pills into drinks while visiting unknown places or in bars. Also, do not allow strangers to use your charger to charge their phone. They will swap your charger for their charger equipped with GPS or data trackers and steal your info. Don't lend your phone to a stranger because their phone is not working. They run away with it. If a stranger talks to you keep looking behind you because they work in groups. Do not get into a stranger's car for obvious reasons. Don't let anyone see your phone screen when inputting your credit card info. Don't wear jewelry or cameras around your neck or wrists. Do not get so drunk publicly that anyone can rob you or control your actions. Lastly, put your wallet in your front pocket and always have your hand in that pocket.

[@Sylvia-fz8xx]

Excellent tips that should be followed in all cities.

[@vivicha875]

Cosas obvias pero no tanto para algunos no?

[@BaggieT]

AirBnB have events online with a superhost that cooks an asado for you. This review has 100s of fantastic reviews. Looks legit to me.

[@windrider39]

I just got back from 2 weeks in BA, changed money 3 times on Florida St and had no problems. My impression is that although it's technically illegal, it's a common and safe thing to do. The rate was similar to Western Union after fees. Took several taxis and most turned on the meter. The only exception was taxis I got at the airports. One of those charged me $25 for a ride that should have been less than $10 on the meter.

[@martymctirri3227]

They did not scam you, you probably went to the "ezeiza airport" which is outside the city (when you leave the limits of the city of Buenos Aires the taxi rate is charged double).

[@eduardoalcazar2600]

Yeah the Calle Florida currency exchange is a pretty common thing to do, definitely not a scam

[@AlixC]

@@eduardoalcazar2600 i am going to buenos aires tomorrow, is any cambio exchange on florida safe or is there a 'recommended' one?

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

Well, I was NOT scammed by a taxi from the LA airport and they charged me over $100. So a "scam" for $25 doesn't sound too bad.

[@SuperMrgentleman]

@@dialecticalmonist3405 Yeah at some point it's kind of a "who cares" thing. Like how much mental effort should I put into saving $15 on an airport cab ride?

[@JetLagRecords]

Brent Timm, your channel is a must watch for me now

[@BrentTimm]

Thanks! That means a lot to me.

[@keithfolse4068]

Thanks for a great video. I go to BA a lot. When I walk down Calle Florida with my friend from there, we make a game out of predicting how many times we'll hear CAMBIO before reaching our destination down the street. (Hint: It's always a HIGH number!)

[@bymarcosba]

100% all true I give this video my Seal of Approval as a born and raised Citizen of the Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

[@dialecticalmonist3405]

Do you know what is the catch? It seems too good to be true.

[@bymarcosba]

@@dialecticalmonist3405 getting stolen is good for you? well you are gonna have a great time in Bs As.

[@navsofour2892]

Once in Argentina i actually exchanged with the "cambio" guys to then pay mi Hotel stay, I saved an equivalent of $60 USD a night as compared to the exchange rate the credit card was giving me. They even offered to bring the currency to the Hotel so i wouldn't need to walk with the USDs as they were a few blocks away.

[@BrentTimm]

Oh wow! Thank you for sharing. Hope I earned your sub!!

[@FindLoveTravel]

Excellent video Brent! Thanks for sharing all these tips!

[@YASTravelsEatsWell]

Great video! Very informative! Good to get another informative video on typical scams. I changed dollars with my Airbnb hosts, the corner Bodega & WU to get the "Blue" rate! BA rocks & is worth the visit!

[@khalidcarrillo1132]

I was just in BA (living in Lima currently) and I saw a motochorro crime happen in front of my hotel in microcentro/monsteratt. I felt like pickpocketing is much more prevalent in BA compared to Lima, while Lima has more violent crime (but as a tourist it will be rare). I also spent time in Cordoba area and that region is super safe and more affordable. Cheers!

[@franciscoluisgonimendieta2803]

Jua jUa jUa !!! que imbecilidad !!!

[@DarylBaines]

Some I've seen in BsAs. Texting on your cellphone while in the seat by the door of a bus - sounds pretty stupid, but I've see this so many times. As the bus begins to pull away and the doors start to close, a guy will casually step on the bus, take the phone out of your hand, and stroll off down the street, while going through the apps on your unlocked phone. Street thieves - particularly on Florida - work in groups of two or three. One will try to engage you in conversation and block your movement along the street, while another comes up behind to steal whatever they can. A variation on this is the guy/girl who bumps into you on the street and spills coffee/water/ketchup on your clothes and then apologises and starts to wipe it off, while their buddies come up from behind. It goes without saying, never carry your wallet or phone in your back pocket. Buses are a good one. Motochorros waiting as people step off the bus. The motobike isn't immediately obvious, because he's waiting halfway down the block. The first guy snatches whatever he can and then runs to the motorbike and jumps on the back.

[@BrentTimm]

Great advice, Daryl! Thank you for sharing.

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

I used to live in Argentina. Much like the rest of Latin America, the thieves on motos are the biggest thing to watch out for. The problem is, if they are clumsy in their grabs they can potentially injure the victim (especially if they are grabbing for a backpack, shoulder bag or purse). I had more problems with people trying to rip me off in purchasing transactions than I did with thieves, however, my local friends could not believe that I had never been mugged in my life, so it is a problem. That being said, overall it’s a safe country. Petty theft isn’t what a tourist should really fear.

[@luislizard2626]

In the video literally everyone walking holding their phones 😂

[@marm317]

Eso pasa sobretodo en Buenos Aires que es un ciudad con millones de habitantes como toda gran ciudad en el mundo! no es la misma realidad en el resto del pais

[@mr.blackwater9155]

Ok, I was born in New Jersey and lived both in New York and Jersey. People, this sounds like Manhattan on a normal day. In any case be safe and responsible Thanks for the updates and great videos

[@mattt.4395]

Black market "cambio" thing is faulty information. Argentina's gov't (at least when I lived there) would periodically -- depending on which party was in power -- implement a policy against selling (but not buying) foreign currency. This was ostensibly done to prevent people from buying US Dollars and "taking money out of the economy." The banks would only sell foreign currency to those who could prove they had upcoming travel plans. And they were required to BUY foreign currency at a set price-fixed rate... which was (obviously) much, much lower than the actual market rate. The "scammers" are simply offering to buy your US dollars or Euros at a rate closer to the actual market rate. But go ahead and give your US dollars to the banks and get only half as many pesos.

[@josephsjourney3387]

Does western union not give blue market rate?

[@BrentTimm]

Thank you so much for watching my video and commenting! I really hope I earned your subscription. :)

[@ronnelacido1711]

He said that some of those black marketeers were using fake or counterfeit money.

[@AC911GT]

I agree 100%. No ideas why he is recommending western union for exchange when you can get nearly double elsewhere.

[@inlovelyblue]

@@josephsjourney3387 Yeah, Western Union does. As do most of the private exchange shops. There's no point taking the risk with Florida (that streets too sketchy).

[@ingaudez8341]

Such a nice easy video! thanks for sharing. I have lived in Bogota for a couple of years, I suppose BA is a bit safer, but always good to get some extra tip.

[@exea]

recording in Retiro area .... what a brave guy!!!

[@Kevin-et5zs]

Thanks for the video! I never had trouble in BA or Mendoza, but the things you mentioned were all attempted on me in Valparaiso and Santiago, Chile. Ok, I did hear cambio a lot---which they don't do in Chile---Chile also has the gypsy scams aplenty, which I didn't see in Argentina.

[@AndrewJames-kt1yj]

Hey guys! Just curious, where did you upload this video from? Did you upload it in Buenos Aires? Or another Destination when you finished editing it? I'm a youtuber and I like to try and research the algorithm to help out my views etc.

[@BrentTimm]

I uploaded it from the USA, 4 weeks after it was filmed. Upload location does not matter.

[@johannavargas7020]

As Argentinian living abroad I love this videos for self reminder and because you are promoting my lovely country. With that said I love your spanglish accent and I won't not be mad at a moto-churro (🤣😂🤣😂) . However I will stay clear of the motochorros. Thank you so much for all this great info ❤️

[@BrentTimm]

Thanks so much for the kind words and enoying the video!!

[@timmartino8835]

I am sure you live in Amerika now..dreamland south of Amerika

[@gustavoavila5515]

90% MANTEROS SON EXTRANJEROS. VILLAS 90% EXTRANJEROS QUE QUIEREN??🤷‍♂️ ASI ESTAMOS

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

Yo me cague de la risa con el “moto-churro” 😂. Pero parece buen tipo, y buena onda.

[@margaretarusu1847]

Yes,please more Videos about this subject

[@BrentTimm]

Ok I promise!!

[@Todd63790]

great and honest video mate 👍🙏👍

[@carmelitasantos5271]

Thanks for all the good info. I'm traveling to BA in July.

[@lucassellecchia]

Mucho cuidado con los motochurros, sobretodo si son con dulce de leche

[@YT_Watchers]

@6:18 watch out for the guy to your left haha

[@BrentTimm]

haha sneaky guy! Hope you were able to sub and share!

[@Vinodkumar-ej5yg]

Nice video Brent Timm, thanks.

[@81flyboi]

Unfortunately this evening my phone was robbed! I’m here in Buenos Aires I took out my phone right quick to answer a call from my mother and from behind me some guy snatched my phone from my hand, I went running after him and he hopped on a scooter and drove off! The messed up thing is that there were police officers sitting in their vehicles very close while all of this was taking place and nobody helped! They took me to the police station to supposedly file a police report, and nobody even wrote a report for me! The police officer took me to my home so I can show on my iPad and locate the phone, and they did not want to go retrieve it from the location it was at. Lesson learned! At the end of the day I’m alive and I’m well, but I just cannot believe this happened to me!

[@BrentTimm]

OH NO! I am so sorry to hear that. Thank you for sharing your story. So sad. Hope you were abell to sub. Better days ahead!

[@Rebecca-sx5vg]

Cops don’t care about nonsense crime (no offense). My friend is a cop there and said they literally do not have time for non violent offenses. Plus, Argentineans love to scam cops too and file false police reports, so it’s a never ending cycle 😞

[@henryc1000]

Why do people instinctively have to answer a phone or see who’s texting them?🤷🏽‍♂️

[@81flyboi]

@@henryc1000 Right! I’m on vacation, my phone rings and I answer! The crazy thing is I felt so lost without that darn phone! It’s amazing how our lives wrapped around technology.

[@ronnelacido1711]

Well, if he's waiting for a call from someone, then it figures that he had to answer his phone when it rung. Why bother bringing your phone if you won't be able to answer it? You should have told him that he could've had left his phone in the hotel.

[@britanification]

one thing that happened to me ,they throw something in the air like bird poop then they say will help you and when you put your backpack on the ground another person comes by to take it. i saw the person so it was close but not me this time

[@tonyevan2501]

Also happened to me in San Telmo area. Luckily I knew about this scam and ignored the 2 guys that approached me to "help" me.

[@BrentTimm]

Hey! Just wanted to let you know that I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment on my video. I really hope I earned your subscription :)

[@EmmaInsua]

As a porteña, let me tell you, many of the people selling kleenex are just selling kleenex. I buy all my kleenex from people on the streets, it's convinient

[@sabbottart]

Taxi’s are a rip off in every country in the world. Just try to avoid them altogether.

[@BrentTimm]

SO TRUE!

[@wavyboyo]

Especially in Mexico/cancun

[@chrisfurner]

Good general advice, thanks! My 14 year old daughter got her phone snatched in BA in summer 2023 by a guy a on a bike. I was infront of her and pulled him off his bike, but I fell over the bike, and he was far away by the time I got up. I did take his bike (which was probably stolen anyway). I loved Bariloche and Igazu falls, but BA is meh IMO. I know that you are trying not to dissuade people from visiting the country, but BI itself is not particularly interesting. I did actually exchange at a blue rate cambio that my hotel recommended and I got a good rate, it was in a building and felt quite safe. But yes, avoid the hawkers.

[@albertoostria9597]

Not churros but chorros!

[@piretkivi3218]

The cambio people were very kind and honest with me. And one of them did look like a character from the Sopranos. He also kissed me on the right cheek. That was very sweet. He gave me a wad of bills and asked me to count everything. It was a bit surreal but everything was honest. I actually thought he was giving me too much money. But then he counted as well and everything was correct. One thing was funny: when I was counting, my voice was too loud. He asked me to be more quiet. But yeah, it is a great memory: a wad of bills, dark corner, count from one to one hundred in Spanish! While whispering... His associate was a shield between us and the street.

[@jeremyleonbarlow]

They call Buenos Aires the Paris of South America. That means like New York or Paris, it is a major city with a lot to do and people from every walk of life & socio-economic class, which means of course there will be some risk of petty theft crimes. When in that kind of environment, use reasonable caution to avoid petty theft. This does not appear to be any more significant a risk to life, health, or safety than any major city in the US or Europe.

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

I totally do not get why anyone would take a cab in this day and age. Uber is so great and cheaper. But there is an Uber scam. The driver will offer to cancel the trip and do it off the books for cheaper. When you give them money, they will palm the bill for a counterfeit one, then tell you 'oh goodness, this is counterfeit. Do you have a different bill?' One way around this is to mark the bill with a pen before you hand it to the driver, and make sure he sees you doing this. But better would be to just use Uber and don't do anything off the books.

[@fichinesonline]

Is as safe as any other big city

[@limouzine1529]

People should realize that pickpocketing, motorcycle grabs are difficult operations, they require sharp skills and constant training. Plus the pay to risk ratio is low, few want to risk several years in prison for snatching a cell phone that can be sold for 200 bucks. That's why there is little street crime in BA

[@hjander]

Reminds me of Mexico City. Thanks for the reminder!

[@marycolmenar1633]

Will cabify be a better option for women? Is Recoleta a fairly safe area? Any tips about going to the Western Union center to get Argentinian pesos?

[@JohnMitch]

It amazes me how people spend $1000 on a iphone and risk Being robbed and losing it. Iphones just attract scumbag thieves by displaying them in public. Me when I am out and about all I need my phone for is the navigation app. So I use a cheap windows nokia phone costs me all of $10 off ebay. Infact I have a couple of them incase I do lose one. I leave my more expensive phone in my hotel room in the safe

[@gabrieladanesi7470]

Avoid Retiro near the trains/bus stations unless you have to take the train or the bus. If you have to take a bus, take a taxicab, it we'll drive you right inside the station and you'll avoid all the multitudes. Close by you have either upscale nice places worth visiting (Arroyo street, Plaza San Martin) or a certain dangerous neighbourhood near the train and bus stations. Be aware if you have to go there.

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

Knew a guy who had the Kleenix scam only it was some little kids trying to sell drawings. The little girl (maybe 6yo) put the drawing on his phone and then when she took it away, the phone was gone. He showed me the video since the restaurant owner gave the footage to them. Pretty shocking. But I can't comprehend people who set their phones on the table. Even in America this makes me cringe. I have a friend who sets phone, wallet and keys on the bar. Good God, how can you do that?!

[@marcom844]

Very Helpful & thanks for being fair to Argentine & the travellers. I was planing to visit there. You did great job of talking the ups & down of beautiful Argentine. Pls, keep in mind the economic hardship in any country cause poeple to change from good citizen to you know what. Even in some developed country you would experience pick pocketing.

[@Calv1967]

Cambios give you a better rate according to almost every other video ive watched

[@GrandChessboard]

Cambios are giving 60 pesos less than Western Union. I was just there.

[@Calv1967]

@@GrandChessboard 60 pesos works out at less than 20 pence, big deal

[@somatravelthai]

Thank you for the good information 😊

[@BrentTimm]

My pleasure 😊Hope I earned your subscription 💚

[@somatravelthai]

Of course … I did !!!

[@BaggieT]

Why would you leave a phone on a table on a public street. Would you leave $1000 cash outside on a table whilst you have a coffee? Thanks for the tips, alot of it seems like common sense to me.

[@maxun1]

You are wrong, the people that said Cambio Cambio, are people that at least 99.9 % are working and if you smart you will change your money with them, how I do it, I just take $100 dollars then I go and I change the money, they may take you to a galleria because is safe for them and for you, then if the transaction when safe, then I come back to same people or directly to the same store and change my money, the money exchange is double what the bank will give you. Never a single problem at all, the only thin I will infancies is do not take a free lancer cab in the airport always use the buses from Manuel Tienda Leon to go to Buenos Aires, the free lancers are thief.

[@DaveG-qd6ug]

He still does not acknowledge he fell prey to the western union scam 😂😂

[@bakklajohn]

Mi wife’s phone got stolen in Subte the first week we got here 😅 we were standing in the subway car to the side of the door, some dude came in, breathing heavily and leaning on door, took out some kind of light jacket from his bag and left it hanging on his arm, covering my wife’s (closed) fanny pack from above, at the next station he got out of the car and waved us goodbye with a smile while the doors were closing and we were slowly realizing what just had happened 😂

[@nakirahakan4628]

Thank. You. Very. Much. For. Your. Attention. And. Your. Reconnaissance.

[@BrentTimm]

Thank you so much for watching my video and commenting! I really hope I earned your subscription. :)

[@4getabodit1]

OMG the sock scam happened to my daughter in Buenos Aires. Her phone was stolen!!! They came at her and her boyfriend like a school of piranhas with the socks in their faces as they sat at a park.

[@RonvanRutten]

I try to avoid Cambio alley (aka Florida) like the plague, so annoying. Good video.

[@alejandromartin1962]

Hello how are you, the inhabitants of Argentina know all the types of robberies that can be committed, it would be good if you make a video, for the foreigner who wants to, I send you a big greeting visiting Buenos Aires

[@johnzabik157]

EXCELLENT COMMENTARY!

[@globaltrekkerexplorer]

Show a video of all the scams that happen at the internet cafes by simply using WiFi in any country as a digital nomad!

[@wansapanatym74]

excellent video im visiting BA in the near future// 😁

[@LuisA-sm2on]

I had my phone snatched right out of my hand in Bogotá. I had to also remind everyone, this can happen anywhere - doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Colombia.

[@stevenieves3728]

A “motochurro” commits the most delicious crimes.

[@Sylvia-fz8xx]

I caught that too! Motochurro with dulce de leche!

[@darrendent8288]

@6:18 homie's like..... Thats a nice phone that Gringo has......

[@bobhupandown1471]

lived in ARG 5 years, never has anyone tried to sell me drugs there is an expression " flash it if you want to loose it " i live in the suburbs and the locals protect me like a child sometimes.. if you know Moco you will know what i mean the only thing i hate about ARG is the mosquitoes and extreme heat in summer the rest is common sense .. illegal immigrants are many but they get nothing from the state.. they do it to survive

[@chezbabi]

Be careful when the cab drive tells you that your maney is counterfeit. Their goal is to exchange as many bills you have.

[@info781]

Italy was like this in the 70's and early 80's. It has changed now.

[@marossi0814]

Hi Brent, the word is chorros(thiefs), not churros which is a fried dough delicacy which is from Spain but is common in a couple of Latin American countries.

[@info781]

Good to know!

[@RE-nv4we]

Or chorros de churros, for the thieves that specialize in stealing tasty churros. You've been warned!

[@jorisw_]

​@@RE-nv4we Those are the worst!!!!

[@TLAA]

BEST value for your money is the Blue Rate CAMBIO. Locals know where the legit ones are. And you get TWICE the money for your exchange.

[@Megadeth6633]

Here's the real deal. I lived in both BA in Paris, and BA is overall safer. The difference might be that crime is committed a bit more violently in BA. But safe place overall.

[@nancyn1106]

We got pick pocked two times Paris within a week in the subway and in a park, luckily we caught it in the middle of the action. We still love Paris and will go back.

[@gcingolani31]

It's the same thing that happens in almost any big city in the world... it's not just because it's Argentina.

[@BrentTimm]

Yes, this is so true!

[@michelledixon3977]

Esos consejos me parece se aplica a toda mi hermosa América Latina, hay q estar águila!!

[@colocado6685]

lmao dude really said "moto churros"

[@federicoezequielmackin]

The bus terminal at retiro is literally 100 feet away from the biggest and most dangerous slum in Argentina... so, yeah... beware.

[@rlfisher]

Helpful video! What is the best way to transfer from EZE to AEP airport? Is the Tienda Leon bus safe for me and my luggage?

[@Maggie.R13]

I don't live in Buenos Aires but I travel there often. I've never used tienda Leon but it's one of the most used transportations and it seems it works perfectly fine. Just so you get an idea, two weeks ago I took a taxi from AEP to EZE and it costed me around 9k pesos (that's 24 dollars), it can be cheaper depending on the time of the day, they have different prices in-between certain hours. Uber it's probably a bit cheaper but there's a huge fight between taxi drivers and uber drivers and taxi drives don't allow uber to enter the airports, but to move around the city I 100% recommend uber

[@DC-zn6oo]

It is completed safe. There are taxi at eze airports too. Just don't pay usd in cash. That's all

[@jeremyschonberger554]

Jjajaja, Motochurros... Que rico!

[@drn13355]

Just a question. What can thieves do with a phone that is password protected? Isn't it basically worthless?

[@rudfil]

I’ve been to Buenos Aires many times and always felt safe. Even during Argentinas economic depression in 2002 I was there. You’re blowing things out of proportion . Cities In the US are way worse imo Brent.

[@gabrieladanesi7470]

You have to be careful, I'm 56, lived here all of my life, if you are careless it's possible to be stolen. In spanish we say "la ocasión hace al ladrón"

[@pinetworkminer8377]

@@gabrieladanesi7470 How common are gun crimes/gun threats in Buenos Aires? Is B.A. much safer than Mexico City?

[@MotoDoug]

We got scammed at the theater. We were standing in line to buy tickets and an elderly nicely dressed woman approached us and said she had extra tickets because her friends couldn’t come. So instead of waiting in the long line we bought them. Low and behold they were expired tickets, she had carefully hidden the date and time under her thumb.

[@info781]

That is kind of funny and sad, I am sure she needed the money.

[@RE-nv4we]

@@info781 How can you be sure she needed the money? What if the money was for drugs, would you also say that she "needed it" ?

[@info781]

@@RE-nv4we Yes to survive in the Argentine economy you need to be in a altered state.

[@bobmason1361]

Now you know why she was nicely dressed. A good living!

[@mariajulitacaro5086]

Brent esto pasa en muchas ciudades; decir No Thanks! si podès traducir el audio ☺ 🌷

[@fredjackson8408]

Growing up playing RuneScape i wondwr how people get scammed irl. How do you not see them coming?

[@MarcelaR-dh1ok]

I spent a month there years ago. Rented a beautiful apt adjacent to Patio Bullrich...no problems...but stay alert.

[@niclesnyc]

Maybe you can edit the title so that 10:36 you don't have to clarify that people should still go visit. The cambio people never gave me counterfeit bills, taxi drivers also were super honest and a few times I didn't have enough cash and they still took me where I needed to go

[@lowellirish]

Anybody who leaves their phone OUT? Deserves it to be stolen!!

[@TedTheTree]

I'm from the UK & I've been considering visiting Argentina but since we had problems with Falklands conflict back in the early 1980's I don't know if it's a good idea. It's wasn't my fault I was only 16 years old at the time?

[@TheChrisEMartin]

As a UK resident on a British passport and my British wife we visited BA a few years ago and spent three months there. Do not worry. Argentines are friendly to all - they know you have travelled a long way - and are interested in you. Many admire Britain. The conflict is political - leave it to the politicians. People are people. Maybe don't get involved in political discussions and don't go close to any demonstrations in the street - we were there at a time of renewed tension over the islands and just stayed clear of the demonstration. Argentina is a fantastic country. Enjoy it.

[@Viciousotk1]

We admire uk, and uk culture. Queen and Rolling Stones are really popular here. We even have a sub culture named "rollingas'. We just hate your politicians.

[@TedTheTree]

Thanks for that positive comment, I hate our government too...however I can't hardly speak any spanish & it was a bit of a nightmare when i visited Colombia last year, ha ha

[@nthroot]

Money changers are definitely not a scam, however it pays to shop around. There is plenty of competition , so it’s easy.

[@boothbuilder]

thanks. I'll travel to Argentina one day.

[@Rebecca-sx5vg]

There’s no such thing as a safe neighborhood in Buenos Aires 😂 Always watch your back and keep a low profile. Travel light and with bare minimum on you.

[@khalidcarrillo1132]

Very true, I had to keep checking my back even in Palermo. I stayed in el centro though and saw a robbery right in broad daylight!

[@Sylvia-fz8xx]

I haven't been there since 1998. These types of scams always existed. Do you think it's worse now? I heard that since a higher percentage are now poorer , naturally there is an increase in scams. It's too easy to spot a tourist and that's what makes me a little nervous.

[@Ma1icia]

The mustard scam I’ve heard is quite common in parts of BA

[@theresasouthern8631]

Do you happen to have any tips on what phone service to get if you will be there for 6 months?

[@margaretarusu1847]

Thank you!

[@breh4626]

Just came back from Buenos Aires , wish you made this sooner 🥲

[@anyloli]

Oh!! What happened to you?

[@BrentTimm]

Hope you had a great time here! Did everything go OK?

[@ronnelacido1711]

Sounds like he got victimized by all those scams. LOL

[@marcom844]

Are all the scamers males or, females also participating? How safe Rental houses, condos or Apartments are?

[@ashton9115]

haha "moto churros" its Chorros

[@lowellirish]

I was raises in Lowell, MA... I could give lessons on hood rats! 🤣🤣

[@Sylvia-fz8xx]

Yes! Same here in Bronx, NY. Lol. The only difference is here we are in our element and we fit in so we aren't targets. But we are probably a little more aware than most tourists who come from small towns.

[@alfredolarsi5600]

"Motochurros" 🤣🤣🤣 It;s motochOrros, dude!

[@christianroi6916]

Good and necessary tips for all foreigners. But I think it's Chorros instead churros, which is food

[@valavila7264]

I wish I could have watched this video before we went to BA. I tried to exchanged money with a guy (but to be honest there were many red flags and we just ignored them) at the end he gave us about $40,000 Argentinean pesos less. So in the moment we noticed we went back and they acted like they gave us the quantity we agreed from the beginning. Thanks God at the end (after arguing and let other "customers" know about it outside of the building where they take you for the exchange), he gave us our 100€ back. And we started be aware of that people.