Pinatar Park SCAM .. Punctured Tyre - General San Pedro del Pinatar discussion - San Pedro del Pinatar forum - Costa Cálida forum in the Murcia province of Spain
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
ASSSA Insurance
Los Alcazares car repair  service

Join the San Pedro del Pinatar forum

Join the San Pedro del Pinatar forumMy name's Alex and this is my website all about San Pedro del Pinatar in Spain. Register now for free to talk about General San Pedro del Pinatar discussion and much more!

Pinatar Park SCAM .. Punctured Tyre

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:52pm
17 replies1102 views6 members subscribed
Austinwrk

Austinwrk

Helpful member

Posts: 156

114 helpful points

Joined: 23 Jan 2018

Posting on here so others are aware of scam.

I went out shopping with my sister yesterday in Pinatar Park in San Pedro. I purchased some paint and returned to our hire car.

She went elsewhere whilst I waited in the car

After a few minutes waiting in the car a well dressed man approached saying there was a problem with the back of the car.  I was a tad suspicious so I leaned out driver window to look  and saw a totally flat back tyre on driver side !!

He offered to "Ayuda"   meaning  "To help"  but  I was still very suspicious I said  No thanks and off he went.

After 5 mins my sister returned to the car. 

We proceeded to change the tyre. So both git out of car and went to fix back wheel. After we fixed it my sister mentioned strange no tyre pressure alarm. I said perhaps car didn't have one .

aAnAnd even more amazed when it picked up pressure problem, with the new tyre , within minutes of starting to drive again.  But huo hum..

When we got home I discovered by small ruck sack with passport in it, that I left on driver seat as I went to fix car   was missing. We think the scammers sneaked into front of car,  on passenger side  , whilst we were busy on the ground fixing wheel on driver side.   

Take ultra care out there

San Pedro civil guard were very good and registered the theft.

Now I just need to replace my passport ... lesson learnt..  LESSON be extra EXTRA careful  in ALL  San Pedro and San Javier Car Parks  !!

Mags44

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:15pm

Mags44

Very helpful member

Posts: 917

790 helpful points

Joined: 1 Sep 2019

Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:15pm

Austinwrk wrote on Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:52pm:

Posting on here so others are aware of scam.

I went out shopping with my sister yesterday in Pinatar Park in San Pedro. I purchased some paint and returned to our hire car.

She went elsewhere whilst I waited in the car

After a few minutes waiting in the car a well dressed man approached saying there was a problem with the back of the car.  I was a tad suspicious so I leaned out driver window to look  and saw a totally flat back tyre on driver side !!

He offered to "Ayuda"   meaning  "To help"  but  I was still very suspicious I said  No thanks and off he went.

After 5 mins my sister returned to the car. 

We proceeded to change the tyre. So both git out of car and went to fix back wheel. After we fixed it my sister mentioned strange no tyre pressure alarm. I said perhaps car didn't have one .

aAnAnd even more amazed when it picked up pressure problem, with the new tyre , within minutes of starting to drive again.  But huo hum..

When we got home I discovered by small ruck sack with passport in it, that I left on driver seat as I went to fix car   was missing. We think the scammers sneaked into front of car,  on passenger side  , whilst we were busy on the ground fixing wheel on driver side.   

Take ultra care out there

San Pedro civil guard were very good and registered the theft.

Now I just need to replace my passport ... lesson learnt..  LESSON be extra EXTRA careful  in ALL  San Pedro and San Javier Car Parks  !!

Never leave anything visible in the car - especially documents!! Your passport should always be on your person anyway as it is your official form of ID when travelling in Spain.

Austinwrk

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 1:17am

Austinwrk

Original Poster

Helpful member

Posts: 156

114 helpful points

Joined: 23 Jan 2018

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 1:17am

Mags44 wrote on Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:15pm:

Never leave anything visible in the car - especially documents!! Your passport should always be on your person anyway as it is your official form of ID when travelling in Spain.

Mags the rucksack with passport is normally GLUED to me.. GLUED to me ... except when I have to bend down and replace a god darn tyre  😞  .. I should have locked the car whilst replacing the tyre   .. but the scammers know   some folks might not...

colin2017

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:15pm

Posts: 37

15 helpful points

Location: Camposol

Joined: 8 Jul 2017

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:15pm

Same happened to some friends in parque Mediterranean Cartagena.

PeterC

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 4:22pm

PeterC

Super helpful member

Posts: 2233

1446 helpful points

Location: Los Alcázares

Joined: 10 Nov 2016

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 4:22pm

It can happen anywhere in the world - theft is international and you must be aware at all times.

Advertisement - posts continue below

Roberto30710

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 10:37am

Roberto30710

Helpful member

Posts: 411

362 helpful points

Location: Los Alcázares

Joined: 28 Nov 2018

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 10:37am

Guys,

Sadly this scam has been done many times. 

But the subject of carrying passports.-  Spanish Police are happy to be presented with a laminated copy (credit card size) of the front page of your passport. So you don't need to carry your passport when you are out and about, it can stay securely locked in a safe place. 

PeterC

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 1:30pm

PeterC

Super helpful member

Posts: 2233

1446 helpful points

Location: Los Alcázares

Joined: 10 Nov 2016

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 1:30pm

Mags44 wrote on Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:15pm:

Never leave anything visible in the car - especially documents!! Your passport should always be on your person anyway as it is your official form of ID when travelling in Spain.

If you are resident you will have the perfect ID, your TIE.

ann75

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 1:33am

ann75

Helpful member

Posts: 525

265 helpful points

Joined: 2 Jul 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2022 1:33am

PeterC wrote on Sun Jan 30, 2022 1:30pm:

If you are resident you will have the perfect ID, your TIE.

Yes but not everyone is resident and this unfortunate event happened with a rented car so probably visitors to the area - something the scammers would target. My sympathy to the people this happened to, it's no reflection on you but this can and does happen all over the world. I'm sure you were being as careful as possible and that's all anyone can do.

Kevin20

Posted: Wed Feb 2, 2022 2:06pm

Posts: 9

6 helpful points

Joined: 22 Jul 2020

Posted: Wed Feb 2, 2022 2:06pm

Roberto30710 wrote on Sun Jan 30, 2022 10:37am:

Guys,

Sadly this scam has been done many times. 

But the subject of carrying passports.-  Spanish Police are happy to be presented with a laminated copy (credit card size) of the front page of your passport. So you don't need to carry your passport when you are out and about, it can stay securely locked in a safe place. 

A simple photograph of your ID kept on your phone is accepted for routine issues

ann75

Posted: Wed Feb 2, 2022 2:07pm

ann75

Helpful member

Posts: 525

265 helpful points

Joined: 2 Jul 2019

Posted: Wed Feb 2, 2022 2:07pm

Kevin20 wrote on Wed Feb 2, 2022 2:06pm:

A simple photograph of your ID kept on your phone is accepted for routine issues

Yes, we thought the same and offered our passports but no, it had to be a Padrón.

Sign up for free or login to reply to this topic

Want to reply to this topic? Login or register for free to post your message:

Find more General discussion topics from a particular area:


Register for free!

Login to your account

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL
ASSSA Insurance
Los Alcazares car repair  service
Advertise your business here
Advertise your property
Help with my computer