I'm no expert on these things, and I'll stay away from specific advice; most ot the "pat" strategies I've heard for dealing with this sort of danger are nonsense, and many could get a person killed quickly.

Please don't assume that their MO will remain the same, and don't underestimate the stakes. For a while, in one major city, the preferred MO was for one assailant to engage a victim in polite, friendly conversation, often just asking the time. In the meantime his accomplice would approach the victim from behind, and from some feet away, whip a heavy chain around the victim's ankles, pulling him off his feet, then they proceeded to methodically kick the victim into unconsciousness, or worse.

The fences who buy stolen credit cards in some cities will pay more for one if the owner has been killed. If the card is just stolen, it's usually reported as stolen and cancelled very quickly. When the victim has been killed, it's often a day or more before family know about it, that credit cards tend to be much further down the priority list, hence the credit cards are viable for longer, and more valuable. In other words, there's a premium for killing you.

IMHO, those- including authorities- who advise not resisting these animals are just unbelievably naive. Again, please don't underestimate the stakes.