Don't you think that countless Mexican-Americans have tried every variation
of this scam by now? With far deeper knowledge and connections. Sounds like
a crazy scheme that I would have gotten turned on by in my 20's, but you
have to remember that if you've got balls and enterprise, there's a hundred
better ways to make money at home, rather than risk any time in a Mexican
jail (think of your parents savings being used up or contracting hepatitis)
"Que loceria!)
"Caveat" wrote in message
news:14a7svo5cgbb59nppgsnotk9iscpmtcrn9@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 14:13:09 -0600, "Bob F." wrote:
>
> >Travelling to Mexico, one's thoughts eventually turn to the subject of
> >smuggling cars into the country.
> >Can anyone out there tell me if they've pursued this strategy before:
> > 1. I legally register my car at the border, using my credit card to pay
> >fee.
> >2. I travel into Mexico where I find a willing buyer for the vehicle.
I
> >sell them the car a the agreed upon price, give them the title, then
return
> >to the USA by bus, plane, hitchhiking, or donkey.
> >3. Once back in the USA, I cancel the credit card.
> >Since the credit card has been cancelled I'm guessing that I can't be
> >charged a penalty by the Mexican government for not returning the car to
the
> >US. Are there any ramifications to this strategy that I'm overlooking,
> >perhaps I won't be able to bring any more cars into the country? Could I
> >run into problems if I try to get a tourist visa in the future?
>
>
> This is a really, REALLY bad idea. It's based on the assumption that
> the Mexican authorities are stupid. In fact, they have had lots of
> experience with these scams in the past, and are just waiting for some
> dumb gringo to come along thinking they can beat the system.
>
> First of all, when you enter Mexico, your tourist card or passport
> number is entered into their centralized computer data base with the
> notation that you entered with a vehicle. If you then try to leave the
> country without the vehicle... gotcha. Mexican jails are no picnic,
> and the US Embassy will have zero interest in helping you get out. You
> are a felon and international smuggler from that point on, forever.
>
> Second, even if you DID make it back into the US without being
> arrested, you couldn't cancel your credit card as long as there was a
> transaction pending on it. If you tried to duck that obligation, then
> the credit card bank would come after you. And when it was discovered
> that their card was used to facilitate an international fraud, they
> would undoubtedly notify the FBI. (Go directly to jail...)
>
> And if you ever tried to visit Mexico again in the future (a passport
> would have been revoked at this point), your name would be on the
> intercept list and you'd probably never make it out the US. And even
> if you did, the Mexican authorities would be waiting with open arms to
> insure a long visit in their country. Computers have long memories.
>
> And all this for what? But, what the hell, go for it if you wish.
> Personally, I think our society would be improved by removing as many
> people like you as possible from our streets.
>
>
> Caveat
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