MONGER BEWARE !!

[ROVER]

Although most of us use ATM's all of us have changed money on the street at one time or another either due to arriving late in the day or on a weekend but now if you find yourself in such a situation, stop and think, .... what is the mininum you really need to change. Also beware of a chica asking to break a large bill for you.


From Sosa News :


More counterfeit money in Sosúa

According to a spokesperson for the national police, a number of counterfeit 200 and 500 peso notes have turned up in various establishments in Sosúa, particularly in the petrol station on the main road. The manager there has announced that he will purchase special equipment to check whether banknotes are real or forged. Various bars and restaurant owners in the town are already using such equipment, so they no longer have any problem with counterfeit banknotes.


http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2009/07/28-7_pesos.jpg (http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2009/07/28-7_pesos.jpg)

[natmatt]

thanks for the information.

since traveling there, i either exchange my money at WU or go to the atm and before i leave, i change $100 to pesos for my next trip -- especially if the rate is high. hell, i got almost 10K pesos in a bank safe now......................

[yayow]

thanks for the information.

since traveling there, i either exchange my money at WU or go to the atm and before i leave, i change $100 to pesos for my next trip -- especially if the rate is high. hell, i got almost 10K pesos in a bank safe now......................

Like you I tend to go the atm or WU route for changing my money in Sosua, but the problem is also when you pay with a big bill and get change back. I am no expert on their bills, so if some bad ones are slipped in there is no way of me knowing until I try and get rid of it somewhere else.

[The Sage]

Every time I see a street money changer with a 4 inch high wad of pesos I think how much of that pile is fake.

[Cuba Libre]

The majority of the guys on the corner near Happy Bar work for those cambios next door and have been there for years.

Are they mildly annoying the way the say "Change", "Change", yes, but dealing in counterfeit bills, I doubt it.

[The Sage]

I'm wasn't trying to say they were. It's just that that much "monopoly" money never looks quite real to me.

[natmatt]

Like you I tend to go the atm or WU route for changing my money in Sosua, but the problem is also when you pay with a big bill and get change back. I am no expert on their bills, so if some bad ones are slipped in there is no way of me knowing until I try and get rid of it somewhere else.

yes, i worry about that too; but, what i do is take the large bills to classico's or to the restaurants and change them there. so, if you get bad bills in classico's then you give them right back. in the restaurants, i normally get small bills back.

just an fyi, the banco popular in sousa pays out in 500 bills. it is located right across from the plaza that is near NGH. if you know where the orange and claro offices are in sousa, then you can't miss it.

[Tiger]

I have been to sosua many times and always use the street money changers. I have never had a problem and the exchange rates are the same. And you can always find them.

I wonder why the conterfeit 200 & 500 peso bills? I would think they would go for the bigger bills.

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[MrHappy]

I have been to sosua many times and always use the street money changers. I have never had a problem and the exchange rates are the same. And you can always find them.

I wonder why the conterfeit 200 & 500 peso bills? I would think they would go for the bigger bills.

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Simple, large bills draw attention, small bills don't. Merchants are more likely to slap a small bill in the cash register without looking at it.

I've even seen counterfeit 50's and 100's.....

[Tiger]

Simple, large bills draw attention, small bills don't. Merchants are more likely to slap a small bill in the cash register without looking at it.

I've even seen counterfeit 50's and 100's.....


I quess that makes sense. In the US they always check 50s and 100s but never 20s. Probably more bad 20s in the US than anyone knows about.

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[voltage69]

the street guys are the same street guys every day. i dont think theyre gonna try to pass you a fake 500 peso bill and risk losing repeat buinsess or business from the enitre NG for what.. 16 bucks?

[givengo440]

More counterfeit money in Sosúa

According to a spokesperson for the national police, a number of counterfeit 200 and 500 peso notes have turned up in various establishments in Sosúa, particularly in the petrol station on the main road. The manager there has announced that he will purchase special equipment to check whether banknotes are real or forged. Various bars and restaurant owners in the town are already using such equipment, so they no longer have any problem with counterfeit banknotes.


Click to see pic (http://www.sosuanews.com/news_pictures/2009/07/28-7_pesos.jpg)

Now you know we are in a recession they counterfeiting even in Sosua. I wonder whats next :confused:

[eldorob]

I have been told by a couple ex-pats that live there, that the money changers on Pedro Clisante near PJs value that spot and would not do anything to jeapordize it. That makes sense to me, why get the tourist police involved for a couple pesos and lose your livelyhood

I've used them for five years and never any issues.

[Tiger]

I have been told by a couple ex-pats that live there, that the money changers on Pedro Clisante near PJs value that spot and would not do anything to jeapordize it. That makes sense to me, why get the tourist police involved for a couple pesos and lose your livelyhood

I've used them for five years and never any issues.

I agree. That's all I use. Never a problem.

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[Bhutto,BhuttoGolly]

Serious question:
Why use the money changers at all? Are the ATM's that unreliable (or insecure)? Don't ATM's give you the best rate? Plus, your not bringing cash with you?
I'd appreciate your info...my 1st trip coming up in exactly one month!!!!

[Tiger]

Serious question:
Why use the money changers at all? Are the ATM's that unreliable (or insecure)? Don't ATM's give you the best rate? Plus, your not bringing cash with you?
I'd appreciate your info...my 1st trip coming up in exactly one month!!!!

The money changers are so convienent. They are always there. Right on the corner between NG and SB and also the corner at the happy bar. The exchange is the same. I always bring enough cash and put it in the room safe. If bringing cash with you is a problem, then the atms are probably better for you. Either one works fine.

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