Before coming to Mexico, I have been warned.
My family and friends have said that it is not a safe place to be as a lady.
Especially, alone.
Have I listened?
You know the answer.
I did a bit of research but it didn’t really scare me.
My cousin, Ina even feared I might get kidnapped of how I look.
As I have been fine in several cities alone and was safe, I took it as a small hiccup.
Besides I found this beautiful place in Tulum that I am considering to live for at least 3 months. It’s my kind of aesthetic and I was excited.
How bad can Mexico be?
I had to find it for myself.
I had to know.
And… I did.
Funny thing was, what I read online really did happen to me.
I got extorted by the police.
The story
It was a beautiful day and I scoot my way to the beach zone. I was so proud of myself having driven that far.
I went to this eco-beach resort called Amansala. I thought of working there for a day, so I also brought my laptop with me.
Heavenly view, and lunch by the sea. Sipping my healthy greens whilst working on my goals.
The dream.
Even better? I got to meet the owner and we had a chat. I saw that she was struggling with some tech stuff and I’ve managed to help her out.
She offered me an opportunity to work there.
Free lodging. Free food. Imagine waking up next to the sea everyday. Very tempting.
I told her I’ll think about it.
We lost track of time and it was 8 pm.
I remembered I have a meeting at 9 pm. So I said my goodbye and scoot my way back.
And so the nightmare begin.
The Tulum Nightmare
As I was scooting back home, I spotted a police car near a local pollo place, thinking they were just grabbing a bite. I passed them and continued on my way. A few minutes later, I noticed them behind me. My heart raced. I felt uneasy.
Instead of heading straight to my destination, I decided to take a right turn, hoping they’d lose interest. But, no. They followed.
It was dark, and the more I tried to stay calm, the more nervous I became. Somehow, I found myself near a cemetery… and the police car? Still right behind me.
Then they beeped at me.
What? I hadn’t done anything wrong. Why were they beeping?
They beeped again. Then, I stopped.
The Masked Police
Two cops, their faces obscured by black masks, stepped out of their car. My heart was pounding as they instructed me to turn off my scooter and hand over my license.
I complied. What choice did I have?
One officer inspected my license with a look of dissatisfaction. He claimed I wasn’t driving properly, which was baffling since they’d been following me since I was stationary.
Meanwhile, the second officer began rummaging through my belongings, repeating the question, “Do you have drugs?”—three times, like a broken record.
His expression soured when he found nothing, and that’s when I started to cry. This was the kind of thing you see in movies, the stories you hear about but never imagine happening to you.
But no. It was happening. Right there, in that moment, I realized: This is real.
The masks confirmed my worst fear: this was an extortion attempt.
What have I gotten myself into?
It was only 8 PM—not that late—but for a female in Mexico, maybe 6 PM should’ve been my cutoff. MISTAKE #1.
Yet here I was.
The officer, barely able to speak English, he asked
“¿Eres turista?” (Are you a tourist)
“Yo vivo aqui” (I live here now).
“¿Eres mexicana?” (Are you mexican)
“No”.
Boom. Then, he said I am in trouble for my driving.
I didn’t think to ask what the specific violation was or demand a ticket—fear had taken over.
Instead, I just kept apologising, explaining that I was only trying to get home. MISTAKE #2.
All while the second cop kept rifling through my things.
I was terrified they’d take my laptop.
But strangely, it didn’t interest them. It didn’t even seem to register that it was a laptop to them. Instead, they had their eyes on something else.
The first officer—dropped the act. “Give us something valuable.”
Of course. That was the real reason they stopped me.
I offered them 200 pesos, but he scoffed. I increased the offer to 500 pesos. Still, no deal.
He suggested I withdraw more money. I refused, tears streaming down my face.
Finally, the officer said, “Leave your AirPods and charger, and we’ll let you go.”
Oddly, I felt a wave of relief. I didn’t even think about the value of my AirPods—I just wanted this to end.
I even managed to negotiate, “Can I keep my charger? I need it to contact my parents.” He agreed. (lol)
It’s strange how fear can shift your perspective and I see the “Contrast Principle” in action. I’d been so worried about my laptop that the request for my AirPods seemed almost reasonable.
I handed them over, desperate for the ordeal to end.
They took the AirPods and drove off. I was left shaking, but I couldn’t let it last long—it was still dark, and I needed to get home safely. I had no signal or internet to contact anyone.
As I gathered my belongings, I realized the second officer had already taken all the cash from my bag. That was their plan all along: one officer distracts while the other steals.
When I finally reached my hotel, I told them what had happened.
They were empathetic and urged me to report it. We called 911 that night,
and the next day…?
I’ll save that story for my next post.
Spoiler: Find My Airpods is the shit.
… and they only had one bud 😂
Wrapping This Up: Lessons from this extortion
- Lady Rule #1: No Nighttime Scootering 🛵🌌
If you’re a solo traveler who looks young and carefree, don’t give “trouble” a reason to notice you after sunset. Cinderella rule—be home before your carriage (or scooter) turns into an extortion magnet. 🕰️ - Stop? Ask and You Shall Question 👮
When a cop stops you, politely ask, “What’s my violation?” And don’t be shy about requesting a ticket.
Bonus tip: According to Mexican law 🇲🇽 , your first ticket as a foreigner is more like a free souvenir than a fine. You’re welcome. 📝 (I wish I knew this sooner) - Carry Light, Think Bright 💼💡
If you don’t need it, don’t carry it. And stash emergency cash and essentials in a separate spot—somewhere in your body where we need not to speak of 😉 - Fear: Great for Horror Movies, Bad for Decision-Making 🧠
Fear is like the worst GPS—it’ll always steer you wrong. When you’re scared, your brain just screams “survive” instead of “analyze.” Practice staying cool so you can channel your inner lawyer and ask, “What l aw am I breaking?” - Always Call Your Support Crew 📞
Your hotel isn’t just for fluffy pillows and fresh towels. When the unexpected hits, they can be your local emergency squad. Report what happened, because solidarity (and a bit of justice) feels better than facing it alone. - The Contrast Principle, or: How to Feel Relieved About Losing AirPods 🎧💔
When you think your laptop’s about to be stolen and they ask for your AirPods instead, suddenly that deal doesn’t sound half bad. Understanding this psychological trick can help you react more rationally when the stakes feel sky-high.
Final Thought:
Travel is an adventure, full of unexpected plot twists 🌍✨. While I’d prefer fewer masked men in mine, this story showed me that resilience is my secret superpower. And next time, I’ll be more prepared—with a backup pair of cheap earbuds. 😅🦸♀️
