Although Las Vegas and the strip, are some
of the most highly monitored (MPD patrols,
MPD Bike Patrols, hotel / casino security guards,
video surveillance etc...) - and therefore
one of the safest destination city's in the
world - the sheer volume of visitors to our
city insures that we have our fair share of
1st amendment test cases and ..well...for lack
of a better term...the less honest of the human
population too!
Be Prepared!
OK - so you weren't a boy scout - but these
two words, could save you a lot of hassles! Here
are a few tips that you should take care of before
you even get here!
Make copies of all your important documents,
credit card numbers etc...and leave them with
someone trust worthy at home.
Put the emergency numbers for our area (911,
*NHP) in your cell phone directory
Put the 800 numbers for each of your credit
cards in your cell phone directory - NOT THE
CREDIT CARD NUMBER - the number on the back
of your card so you can report any irregularities
to them ASAP.
Put the contact phone numbers of your home
and auto insurance companies into your cell
phone. Check your bill for their 24 hour 800
"incident" reporting number. No need to speak
with your agent, unless of course you really
feel that you must!
Ladies: If you carry a pocket book - try
to carry one that has a velcro clasp. It is
much harder for someone else to open, and louder
too!
Men: Put a rubber band around your wallet,
and keep it in your front pants pocket! The
rubber will make it harder to slip out of
your pocket, and the front pocket is usually
deeper than those on your
butt - and the combination will usually scare
off any would be pick pocket.
Be EXTRA aware of your mind set!
There is a HUGE difference between being "on
vacation mode" - and - "at a convention
mode!" If you're on vacation - the ONLY
thing you should be concerned with is having
fun! Yeah, I know, if your 're anything like
me, work does creep in from time to time - but
for the most part - you're biggest concern is
where to have dinner tonight!
HOWEVER
Being "at a convention mode" - is
so much more complex, that your normal internal
alarms can get suppressed! Think about it...you
are here on business - so you have all of your
normal business concerns going through your brain
- PLUS - you have a hard schedule to keep here
- meetings, booth appointments etc.., PLUS, you
may have special sales presentations that you
need to make...PLUS...you may have a few special
clients that you need to entertain nightly...PLUS...Your
boss...PLUS...the work back at home...PLUS...your
spouse is upset that your in Las Vegas without
them - and your not feeling to good about that
yourself - AND to top it all off - your feet
are killing you!
Be EXTRA Alert
With all these things going through your mind,
and almost everyone of them at the top of the
priority list in your day planner - it is easy
to fall prey to those wishing to take advantage
of you!
Most of the first amendment test cases as I
call them (preachers, doom say ers, literature
distributors - NO NOT EXHIBITORS, etc...) are
for all practical purposes harmless, and if you
simply ignore them, they will continue doing
what they were doing before you showed up and
not bother you ;-) They object to what you're
doing here, why you're here, that the end is
here - but oh by the way, since you're here anyway
come down to our club for the best girls in town!
If you like what their saying - by all means
listen, but just remember, they are not licensed
to be there, nor are they allowed to ask for
handouts, donations etc, etc, etc...
The other part of the equation - the "less
honest of the human population" - on the
other hand you do need to watch out for! These
are the con-artists, flimflam artists, pick-pockets,
professional beggars, etc...The sheer amount
of cash floating around Las Vegas, makes these
low life's salivate - and some will do almost
anything to try and make you part with some of
yours! So be on the look out. Here are a few
tips to remember during your visit:
The professional beggar, may look like and
even smell like a truly homeless, down on their
luck person. They may even approach you asking
you for "only a dollar" so they can
buy a meal. DON'T GIVE IT THEM! Some of these
folks are actually pulling down $45-$60k a
year with this scam! If you REALLY have to,
you REALLY feel sorry for the person, and you
think they are legit - offer to walk them over
to the nearest McDonalds and buy them a meal
- if they refuse - YOU my friend were almost
a victim! Just walk away. By the way - there
is no minimum age requirement for the professional
beggar - they can be VERY young and male OR
female.
Sometimes - the professional beggar is also
a distraction for a pick pocket. While you're
trying to avoid them, or, digging for a dollar,
other folks may be watching what pocket your
reaching into for that dollar, or what section
of your pocketbook your looking into. Yes,
this is another reason NOT to give money to
a beggar on the street - but also a warning
to safe guard your valuables! Vegas pickpockets
are very good - and - you may not notice your
wallet or even the watch on your wrist is missing
until you get back to your hotel room!
You're on a crowed side walk - and someone
on a bicycle is riding toward you against the
flow! Not only should you move out of the way
so you don't get hit - but you should move
your purse, or any other valuables to the opposite
side from which they will pass you. Law abiding
citizens don't ride their bikes on crowded
sidewalks on the strip- so this rider is looking
for a victim.
Not so much on the strip, but definitely
off strip, downtown and other areas - you may
find so called "street games" - 3
card monty, craps etc...Look - if you like
to gamble, there are plenty of FAIR games you
can play in any casino in town - so do it there.
I will guarantee you this - YOU CAN'T WIN playing
a street game! Anybody you see winning at a
street game is a shill, and is only there to
make you THINK that the game is fair! Just
walk away and don't look back!
It's 115 degrees outside, everybody is sweating
just THINKING about going out side - and walking
towards you is a man (woman) with a jacket
draped over their arm. There's only two scenarios
that can be true here - (a) they can't stand
the air conditioning or (b) they are trying
to hide what their hands are going to be doing!
They typical tourist here is NOT going to be
carrying a jacket with them - so assume that
they are trying to hide something, and get
out of their way - WAY - out of their way.
The Scam artists here are incredibly imaginative!
They will use any premise and try to turn into
a money making proposition FOR THEM! The old
saying of "if it sounds too good to be
true -it probably is" - is not only true
here in Vegas - but any large vacation city
in the world. The typical scam goes something
like this..
Sir, Mam - I need a favor
They will be extremely polite, and
make it appear that YOU will be doing
something good FOR them.
I have this item
The item that they will show you
will appear to have an "obvious
value" - for example, a Rolex
watch, a stack of $100.00 chips
and I can't do something with it.
There will usually be some long, drawn
out story about how they can't hock it
because they don't have a drivers license,
they can't cash in the chips because they
are under age, etc...
and I was wondering if you could do me the favor
of doing it for me.
This is really where the scam starts
- if you have hung around long enough to
get to this part, they know they at least
have a chance. So - they ask you to do,
what they cannot. If you agree, they may
start to hand over the item to you, but
as they start handing over the item, they
will suddenly pull back and say something
like...
But I don't really know you, how do I know
that after you <do the deed> that you'll
come back and give me my money.
They have just insulted your integrity,
your honesty - and to tell you the truth,
if you ever get to this point in a scam,
you're about to lose some money. Because
the next words out of their mouth will
be something like...
I know, we both know this item is worth
X, if you give me 1/10 of that to hold until
you get back, I'll spilt the whole thing
with you 50/50 when you get back.
If you are honest trusting person,
wishing to do a favor for someone, and
your integrity is now bruised, you may
think that is only the honest thing to
do. Conversely, you may be thinking about
absconding with the item and keeping
it for yourself, and giving him only
1/10 of it's OBVIOUS value is well worth
the price. No matter which reason you
have for handing over the money - you
have been scammed! Whatever that "item
of obvious value" is -in the "light
of day" - it is worthless
TAKE THAT BADGE OFF!
Once you leave the show floor, there is no reason
in the world for you to leave that target on
your chest! THAT'S RIGHT I SAID TARGET! The low
life's I mentioned above prey on those people
who they feel will be most susceptible to their
scams. THEY KNOW - with everything going through
your mind right now after the show - that you
are not ONLY distracted, your tired, maybe hungry,
and maybe have had a drink or two! YOU are a
perfect target. So by taking your badge off,
you become "just another tourist" -
and a much less "qualified target."
Keep with the pack!
When you're on the strip - you're ALWAYS in
a crowd of people - you just don't know if that's
a good thing or a bad thing. So, like anywhere
else - you are always safer walking around with
a group of people you know! This is especially
true for those of you daring enough to travel
the "locals" roads behind and in between
the hotels! These "behind the scenes" walkways
are really NOT recommended for anyone unless
they really have to be there. Yes, this is the
underbelly of our city - and you'll find not
only our trash cans, but maybe run into someone
that you really don't want to dance with - so
stick with the pack and the main drags! If it's
darker down that side street than the one your
on - don't go there!
Other Scams to be aware of!
Sex Scams!
You're in Vegas - the sex capitol of the world
- NOT! Yes, our women are some of the sexist
on the planet, the waitress's incredible looking,
and the stripers at the club - well what can
you say but WOW!
But remember - prostitution is ILLEGAL in Clark
County - yes - that includes Las Vegas, and if
you're looking for that kind of entertainment
- LEGALLY - you're going to have to travel about
60 miles to the west for the closest legal brothel!
But what about all those "entertainment" ads
in the yellow pages?
Well - According to the LVMPD Tourist Safety
Division - you're just asking to get get ripped
off!
The charge that you are negotiating on the
phone is simply a "delivery" charge to your
door. PERIOD - END OF DISCUSSION. You get nothing
else for those dollars.
Once the delivery is made - there will be
further negotiations for anything else - and
it is usually piece meal, i.e. X dollars for
the shirt, Y dollars for a dance etc...
Prostitution is STILL ILLAGLE
Don't drink anything that the lady brings
with her - it may be drugged, and when you
wake up, the lady, and all of your valuables
will be gone.
Time Share Scams:
The Las Vegas construction market is exploding
- just look almost anywhere in the valley, and
you'll see homes, apartments, hotels, stores,
shopping centers being built. AND - the Time
Share industry is moving in with gusto! Now,
the vast majority of these are legitimate companies,
with a real product to sell at a real location.
Unfortunately, there are some scam artists out
there trying to take advantage of not only the
time share companies but you as well. What should
you look out for?
Most time share companies will offer you
an incentive for attending one of their sales
presentations. The incentives are ALWAYS FREE
- and ALWAYS given to you after the presentation.
Anyone offering you an incentive for a small
deposit - is a scam artist.
Check their credentials. Do they have a business
card? Give the number on the card a call -
and see if it is properly answered. ANY variance
from normal business practices - should raise
the red flag, and you should just walk away.
It is not unheard of to view a site under
construction - however, if you never enter
an office - do not fill out any kind of document,
or hand over any kind of funds i.e. check,
charge card #, cash etc...if they don't have
at the very least a temporary building at the
construction site - you're being set-up. Walk
away, and report the incident to METRO PD.
And as always - if it sounds too good to
be true - it IS! The Las Vegas market is so
hot right now, deep discounts on any kind of
housing - including time shares is unheard
of!
