A New Zealand couple holidaying in Mexico feared for their lives after getting caught up in a medical scam they believed involved a Mexican drug cartel.
Belinda Gelston and Peter Varcoe celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Los Cabos, Mexico, staying at the Royal Decameron Hotel in July, reports NZME.
Ms Gelston fell ill and organised to get treatment at a local medical centre. The NZ$7100 treatment cost surprised the couple but it was approved by their insurers, Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
However when Ms Gelston was ready to leave, staff wouldn't let her, saying the billed had been "revised" and would now cost NZ$13,500.
The couple reluctantly agreed to guarantee payment, but when they got back to their hotel room, the key wouldn't work.
An "angry-looking big man" told them "you guys aren't paying your bills and you need to pay them".
They explained that they'd guaranteed payment through their insurer but staff threatened jail.
Unsure why the hotel would be involved, a man then called to say medical staff would be at reception in an hour to collect the money - in cash.
"Just by the way they were talking to us and the tone, it was hard to put yourself in that situation, but we were starting to get really concerned about what the heck was going on," Ms Gelston told NZME.
Southern Cross arranged to move the couple to the American owned Hyatt Hotel at 2am whilst it was quiet for their safety.
"But when we got down to the lobby there was someone there and he picked up the phone immediately and there was an older guy and he was starting to close these great big doors... and outside there was another guy walking up.
"So there was three of them and I don't know why, but I could see that things were not right and we were in danger and I said to Pete, 'run, f***ing run'."
Hyatt Hotel security ran to help the couple when they realised what was going on as the "angry Mexicans" chased them.
Hyatt staff reassured them they were safe, but when they arrived at the airport there was more trouble.
The couple were told by an American Airlines attendant that "we've got a problem" when they tried to board.
"He translated that we owed money in Mexico and we weren't getting on the flight until we paid it and if we didn't pay it, we would be taken to jail until it was paid."
The couple spent an hour negotiating with authorities and had to contact the embassy and Southern Cross to sort the matter.
Ms Gelston said she thought the scam was linked to a Mexican drug cartel.
Newshub.
