A Canadian couple on vacation in Dominican Republic framed for theft, arrested by fake police in front of hotel staff. they were then extorted for money.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/26042007/3/canada-couple-files-complaint-ordeal-dominican-resort.html

How do you guys escape from this kind of nightmare holiday?
What can one carry as weapon for this situation?

I would say dont go to 3rd world countries.
Remember that weapons in most countries are frowned upon, and may get you in trouble too.

Fake police isn't that unusual in the 3rd world. Nor are fake callers in the 1st world. Simply ask if you can phone their office (you look the number up, don't use one they give you) and then do so before you go anywhere with them or open the door. Genuine people will never object. Keep the door shut or start shouting 'Someone get the police i'm being robbed!!" if you are on the street. They'll run.

And the old saying 'in every con there are 2 crooks; the conman and the victim' is true. 'Framed for theft' means an accomplice sold them some drugs/goods or exchanged money below the legal rate and then a 'policeman' came along to demand a bribe. You can't blackmail an innnocent man. If these people really had done nothing wrong they wouldn't have paid up.

I know lots of people who've been to the 3rd world and they all loved it.
Simon

And the weapon you need is a brain.
Simon

Lots of cash in the form of travelers cheques (these are insured) with limited amounts of cash generally helps. As for carrying any weapons, this is a very bad idea. This would cause no end of trouble if you end up in a situation with the real local police forces.

The Dominican Republic is renowned for these kind of scams, the couple from Canada were quite lucky that they simply didn't just disappear for good never to be seen again. Its not a good idea to leave the grounds of the Hotel in this country.

I would have to say that one the safest countries in the Caribbean would have to be Cuba, they should go there for their next vacation. They would have no problems at all with their with personal safety. (Best to go outside the Hurricane season though.)

When I travel, I usually say I'm from Scotland. Usually goes down better than saying I'm British, especially nowadays.

“Lots of cash in the form of travelers cheques (these are insured)”

Just be aware, despite the marketing of traveler’s checks as being generally accepted worldwide, that was not my experience in Ecuador, even in the capital, Quito.

On my first visit there in 2000, I carried mainly traveler’s checks, with cash (Ecuador uses the US Dollar as currency) for some of the more remote areas to which I knew we would travel. At several of the hotels in the bigger cities, we tried to pay with traveler’s checks and were told they would not accept them. We even went to several banks, that also refused them and were told only the Central Bank in Quito would cash/exchange them for cash. After that I never carried traveler’s checks to Ecuador again.

When traveling to a new country, it is best to touch base with others who have visited the country, as to what are and what are not acceptable forms of payment.

Pete