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Based on your account, and that the "suspect" left with the police to make a statement, my guess is that he was Spanish? Not trying to be offensive to anyone when I make that assumption, but it would make sense. A local petty conman who does that "missing euro" routine on foreigners, some of whom may come from countries where dealing with the police can be dodgy. They do not have 400 euros, and are frightened and show the conman they only have say, 75 euros on them. The conman never really expected to get 400 euros in the first place. He just has that amount as a foundation of sorts. Conman agrees to the 75 euros and disappears (thus the reason for committing the con in the morning, not the night before). The poor victim is happy that they did not have to speak with a copper. All they want to do is walk the Camino in peace. The conman is 75 euros richer from a small investment of the price of an albergue for the night.Re Profiling, I am the OP and am 70 years of age, I am guessing the other person was in his mid thirties, much younger, fitter and stroger than I am. OK I am a stubborn B who does not know when he is beaten but that is not an obvious characteristic.
My view is that a shy, nervous person of my age, particularly a lone woman, in a foreign country, may well have reacted differently.
It's always a good idea to keep your withdrawal slips, anyway. I do so I can later compare them with my statements.As an older woman, with little Spanish, who has often shared an albergue with a single (often Spanish) man, if this IS a scam, it’s a bit worrying. If the police were called in, I would also strongly deny having committed theft, but from now I shall be making sure that my ATM deposit slips stay with any cash withdrawals I make, so I can prove where the cash came from.
Jill
Here’s s kind of similar story. Last Sunday in Avilés, I went to an ATM in Avilés to withdraw €130. As I went to put my card into the slot, I noticed that another card had been left there. I took the card out, looked around and saw no one, and proceeded to make my withdrawl. Just as the bills came out, an older, slightly dishelved man came up behind me and said it was his card. I asked him for ID, which he gladly showed me. I told him I was an honest person and had intended to wait around for a few minutes before dropping it in the “correspondencia” slot under the ATM. As he walked away, I noticed my money had vanished from the slot. OMG! I nearly had a heart attack. THAT GUY PULLED A FAST ONE ON ME, I immediately thought. I started following him, I took his picture, etc. He was very calm, didn’t ask me why I was following him or anything. Cool as a cucumber. So I dialed 112 as I followed, told them my story and suspicions. Very quickly two cars were on the scene. They walked us to the station, searched him, and found no money. It was then one of the officers said that if money is left in the slot too long the machine takes it back. I was practically in tears trying to apologize to this poor man who I was sure had scammed me. We parted friends, but I was devastated and still am. I sent a letter to the police station via the town hall e-mail address. I want to get a €50 gift card from Corte Inglés for him and hopefully be able to get it to him through some intermediary. Town Hall has not, as yet, acknowledged receipt of my request. So, moral of the story, If money vanishes from an ATM in front of your eyes, it may NOT be a scam. Yes, the bank verified on Monday afternoon that my money hsd been “eaten.” But they can’t just hand it over. MY bank has to file s claim.I would like to warn fellow pilgrims about potential theft or possibly an attempted scam in an albergue in Navarette last week.
In short I shared an eight bed room with another pilgrim who went for a shower before I did in the morning. This man then produced his wallet, which still contained credit cards and accused me of stealing 400 Euros from him. After the initial shock, and then extreme anger, I insisted in calling the police. He then suggested that if I gave him back the money there would be no need for the police. Hmm!
However I did call the police and when they came he suddenly remembered seing another man with dark hair in the room. Hmm!
The Spanish police were very good, neither spoke English, and they even complimented my very bad Spanish
Anyway I'm not sure they believed the other man, they told me that I was never a suspect, and I left without having to visit a Spanish jail.He left with them to make a statement at the police station.
IMHO there are only two possibilities, firstly the other man was a fool, leaving a large sum of money unattended in a rucksack and he was actually robbed, or secondly he was a scammer, hoping to take advantage of someone who did not want the problems of involving the police.
Either way a crime was committed so beware!
Very interesting and embarrassing! Thanks for pointing this out, though, about the money being pulled back in! I didn't know that.Here’s s kind of similar story.
They do not have 400 euros, and are frightened and show the conman they only have say, 75 euros on them.
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