{
  "id": "banking/cash-and-atm-skimming",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler that cards work everywhere in Mexico and no cash is needed",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(mexico.*card.payment|mexico.*cash|mexico.*atm|cash.only.*mexico|mexico.*bank.account)",
  "domain": "banking",
  "category": "cultural_practice",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Mexican cities and tourist areas widely accept cards, but markets, small eateries, taxis, and rural areas are often cash-only (pesos). Standalone (non-bank) ATMs carry higher skimming risk and offer poor dynamic-currency-conversion rates. Foreigners generally need residency (temporary or permanent) to open a local bank account.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Travel Mexico with only cards, expecting universal acceptance",
      "why_fails": "Markets, street food, taxis, and rural areas are frequently cash-only in pesos; card-only travelers get stuck outside malls and chains.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.gob.mx/condusef"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Use any standalone ATM and accept its currency-conversion offer",
      "why_fails": "Standalone non-bank ATMs have higher skimming risk and poor dynamic-currency-conversion rates; choosing 'with conversion' costs more.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Carry pesos for small vendors and withdraw from bank-branch ATMs; always choose to be charged in pesos.",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Use ATMs inside bank branches; decline dynamic currency conversion to avoid poor rates.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.banxico.org.mx/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Use no-foreign-fee cards at hotels and chains; open a local account only if you obtain residency.",
      "success_rate": 0.82,
      "how": "Standard accounts require temporary/permanent residency; tourists rely on cards and cash.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.85,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "banking/cash-and-atm-skimming/mx"
  ]
}