Happier Abroad Forum Community

My apartel room was broken into twice—while I was asleep. Can you imagine? They stole my phones, credit cards, and around P2,000 in cash. I called to have my main credit card replaced, but it never arrived. Without my SIM card, I couldn’t complete two-step verifications, so I was locked out of my banking and online accounts.

Thankfully, I had the foresight to split my other credit and debit cards into two separate batches. The hidden stash? Never found by the thieves.

I had to leave the Philippines and go back to the US to replace all of this. But because my hidden credit cards had PINs and I had two more debit cards, I was able to leave and even go to Paris on the way back for a one week stopover.

Since then, I don’t take chances:

I don't trust hotel safes, they can just open those with a 0000 and they all have a master key in the reception. Plus, the battery may just run down and you can't open it.

I travel with a ScotteVest

I use FlexSafe ( look it up). I put it on the hanging bar in the drawer and throw some underwear or some ugly t-shirt over it.

I keep at least three bank accounts, each with its own debit card, stored in different places.

I carry five or more credit cards, each set up with a PIN for emergency cash advances. Hidden in separate places.

I use a hanger safe (look it up—they're clever), and I added a door handle alarm that I hang on the door before sleeping.

I also buy bundles of old Zimbabwean dollars from the Mugabe era on eBay. They're practically worthless, but they say “Dollars” on them. Most thieves see that and think they’ve hit the jackpot—many don’t even know Zimbabwe is a real country.

When I’m back in the Philippines, I scatter those fake bills around the house—stuffed in drawers, jacket pockets, even wallets filled with expired cards. Next time, I’ll go further: I plan to hide valuables in fake Coke bottles, hollowed-out books, and disguised bean cans—all easy to find online.

Most thieves aren’t smart enough to realize the real money is hidden in plain sight. A little misdirection goes a long way.

Yes, it may seem like overkill—but it’s worked ever since.

And if you’re the kind of person who brags, “I’ve never had a problem,” I have just two things to say:

Not yet. Every victim once said the same thing—until it happened.

You’re just being cavalier and are pushing your luck.

Crime is everywhere, not only in Philippines and if you travel you should be always aware of it.
Never carry much cash money with you. Never show up in public with anything valuable like expensive watches, necklaces, jewelry...
especially not during late night...
If you invite unknown girls in your hotel room, and there is a hotel safe or at least a strong suitcase with locks/numbers, lock everything, otherwise in morning the girl and your money might be gone...
and so on and so on.
Just common sense...

ladislav Tue Jul 22, 2025
I keep at least three bank accounts, each with its own debit card, stored in different places.
I carry five or more credit cards, each set up with a PIN for emergency cash advances. Hidden in separate places.

Sounds to be a good advice, I am doing the same.

I have banking accounts in Europe, Japan and in Thailand with debit cards and also internet banking to be able to transfer money in any urgent situation. Also have two credit card issued by two different companies.

Credit card fraud is rampant. Check your accounts by internet requently if you are travelling abroad - if you notice something unusual, call quickly the bank/creditcard company to lock this account and to investigate.

One of my credit cards had to be re-issued 7 times during the last 18 months because of fraud - bills arrived from USA, Japan, China, Malaysia etc.

The credit company intercepted so far most of them before I was even aware that my credit card data were stolen again and again and I had no financial loss but also had to wait every time for about 1 to 2 weeks for replacement.

The other creditcard had also been replaced but only 1 time, after a fraud online shopping in Singapore.

I have no data about my creditcards and banking accounts in my computers and mobile phone, it seems that somewhere somebody is hacking a data center stealing those creditcard holder's personal details. 1000s of creditcards have to replaced all the time worldwide, but after a few weeks again some hacker is breaking into credit-card related servers again.....

Yes, in case you travel you need several creditcards and several banking account debit cards to be sure not to run out of money. Expect one of your credit cards to be locked suddenly anytime because of fraud related to data breach done by criminals.